Flora of Great Britain and Ireland facts for kids
The flora of Great Britain and Ireland refers to all the different kinds of plants that grow naturally in these islands. It's like a huge plant family album! Scientists and plant lovers have done a great job documenting these plants, making it one of the most well-known plant collections in the world.
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Discovering the Plants of Britain and Ireland
There are about 1,390 types of plants that are native to Great Britain and Ireland. This means they have grown there naturally for a very long time. But there are also over 1,100 other types of plants that are non-native. These plants were brought to the islands by people, sometimes on purpose and sometimes by accident, and they have now made themselves at home.
How We Keep Track of Plants
A special group called the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland helps keep track of all these plants. They have created a huge online list, like a giant plant encyclopedia! This list helps everyone learn about the plants.
Each plant on the list has two names:
- An English name, which is what most people call it.
- A scientific name, which is a special Latin name that scientists around the world use. This helps avoid confusion, as one plant might have many English names!
The list also uses special symbols to tell us more about each plant:
- The letter e means the plant is now extinct. This means it no longer grows in the wild in Britain and Ireland.
- An asterisk * means the plant is an introduced species. This tells us it was brought to the islands by people.
Different Types of Plants
The plant world is huge and diverse! In Britain and Ireland, plants are grouped into different families.
Ferns and Their Relatives
One group includes ferns and their close relatives. These are ancient plants that don't have flowers or seeds. Instead, they reproduce using tiny spores. You might see them growing in damp, shady places.
- List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland (ferns and allies) covers these fascinating plants.
Conifers: The Cone Bearers
Another important group is the conifers. These are mostly trees and shrubs that produce cones instead of flowers. Think of pine trees or fir trees! They usually have needle-like leaves that stay green all year round.
- List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland (conifers) lists the conifers found here.
Flowering Plants: The Biggest Group
Most of the plants you see are flowering plants. These are plants that produce flowers, which then turn into fruits or seeds. This is the largest and most diverse group of plants.
Flowering plants are divided into two main types:
- Dicotyledons: These plants usually have flowers with petals in groups of four or five. Their leaves often have a network of veins. Many common garden plants and trees are dicotyledons.
- List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland (dicotyledons)
- List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland (Rosaceae) specifically covers the rose family, which includes not just roses but also apples, strawberries, and many other familiar plants!
- List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland (Asteraceae) focuses on the daisy family, which includes sunflowers, dandelions, and of course, daisies.
- Monocotyledons: These plants often have flowers with petals in groups of three. Their leaves usually have parallel veins, like grass. This group includes grasses, lilies, and orchids.
- List of the vascular plants of Britain and Ireland (monocotyledons) lists these plants, from water plantains (Butomaceae) to beautiful orchids (Orchidaceae).
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