Image: Leycesteria formosa London window box weed dentate foliage

Description: A young specimen of Leycesteria formosa (family: Caprifoliaceae), the Pheasant Berry, growing in a window box in a neglected and litter-strewn 'area' front garden in Notting Hill Gate, London, U.K. Judging by its surroundings, the plant is probably growing as a weed, self-seeded in a pigeon dropping, given that it is surrounded by other common London weeds, such as Geranium robertianum, Sonchus sp., Lactuca scariola and Erigeron canadensis. There is even a small Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) seedling protruding from amongst its foliage. This specimen of L. formosa has assumed a prostrate growth habit - almost a rosette. The foliage is slightly atypical, the leaves exhibiting, not the usual elongate heart shape with a long drip tip, but a generally shorter form with a dentate-to-finely-lobed margin.
Title: Leycesteria formosa London window box weed dentate foliage
Credit: Own work
Author: Flobbadob
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes