Flowering Plants and Fungi

There is plenty of plant and fungal life for visitors to enjoy on the Commons, ranging from the communities of the woodland glades to those of the open grasslands, from heaths to wetland areas and wayside ‘weedy’ zones.

The wetland zones

Nestled in the wetland areas, or bogs, are a range of small, unassuming and relatively rare plants that you won’t find in any other habitats.  Drainage in historical and recent times means such sites are rare in London and the surrounding countryside and largely confined to protected locations. On the Commons, the bog communities are made up of a diverse collection of plants such as Bog Mosses, Bogbean, Bulbous Rush, Oval Sedge, Star Sedge, Water Horsetail, Alder Buckthorn, Marsh Pennywort and Lesser Skullcap. Lesser Spearwort, Yellow Iris, Reedmace, Common Reed, Marsh Thistle and Gypsywort are also commonly found. The Farm Bog site on Wimbledon Common is one of only two sites in London where Veilwort (Pallavicinia lyelli) has been found.

The acid grasslands and heathland mosaic

The open grasslands and heaths form a patchy mosaic of communities.  Purple Moor Grass is common throughout. Ling dominates the heathland areas.  Other heather species can also be found, such as the Cross Leaved Heath, which is more frequent in wetter areas.

Orchids may occasionally be seen in both heathland and grassland areas.  Recently, there has been renewed recording of the main acid grassland area, known as The Plain.  The aim is to monitor the impact of annual mowing on the plants and insects and to understand the community better.  At the same time, at least one hectare is left uncut each year to provide a refuge for ground nesting birds and to encourage their breeding.  In 2015, skylarks, a species in decline in Britain, bred successfully on The Plain for the first time since 2007.  

On the open grassland in high summer, flowering herbaceous plants, such as Vetches, Tormentil, Birds Foot Trefoil, Stitchwort and Heath Bedstraw, create colourful patchworks of purple, yellow and white.  The paler yellow flowers of Yellow Rattle are increasingly widespread.  This semi-parasitic plant weakens the roots of grasses and beneficially opens the sward to other herbaceous plants, thus increasing biodiversity in the grasslands.  Grasses such as Yorkshire Fog, Common Bent and Sweet Vernal Grass are common, with Purple Moor Grass, sedges and rushes abundant in the wetter areas  

Some of the characteristic plants of the Commons acid grassland - heathland-wetland mosaic include: 

Alder Buckthorn                             Frangula ulnus

Bell Heather                                   Erica cinerea

Bog Moss                                      Sphagnum (several species)

Bogbean                                        Menyanthes trifoliata

Broad-leaved Willowherb               Epilobium montanum

Brown Sedge                                 Carex disticha

Bulbous Rush                                Juncus bulbosus

Common Bent                                Agrostis capillaris

Creeping Willow                             Salix repens

Cross-Leaved Heather                   Erica tetralix

Dwarf Gorse                                   Ulex minor

Floating Club Rush                        Eleogitan fluitans

Heath Bedstraw                             Galium saxatile

Heath Woodrush                            Luzula multiflora

Heather (Ling)                                Calluna vulgaris

Mat-Grass                                      Nardus stricta

Purple Moor Grass                         Molinia careulea

Southern Marsh Orchid                  Dactylorhiza praetermissa

Sweet Vernal Grass                       Anthoxanthum odoratum

Water Horse-Tail                            Equisetum fluviatile

Yellow Rattle                                  Rhinanthus minor

Yorkshire Fog                                 Holcus lanatus

Our recent work shows that over 100 herbaceous plant species can regularly be seen on the acid grasslands and heaths during the summer .

A fuller list and discussion is available in the publication ‘Monitoring on the Plain 2014’ which is available from the Ranger’s Office.

Woodland Glades 

Within the woodlands, open glades where light can penetrate often reflect the plants of the surrounding heath and grassland areas.  Brambles and tree seedlings abound and an understory of Holly and Hazel may develop.  Various species of Willowherb are commonly seen and occasionally Foxgloves. We are working to promote more open areas within the woodlands since these also encourage butterflies if suitable food plants are present.

Wayside Margins

The ‘weedy’ plants of the wayside margins are also important for the Commons ecology.  They form food sources for a wide range of insect species and excellent shelter for nesting birds.  Cow Parsley and Hogweed are abundant, giving attractive early summer vistas to the paths and bridleways. Hawkweeds, Sorrels and Dandelions are also present; Thistles, Horsetails, Bindweed, Plaintains and Sorrel are common.  Mugwort is found near the main car park and wood pile on Wimbledon Common alongside Oxeye Daisies and Wall Barley. Rosebay Willowherb is also patchily abundant along the wayside margins.