Adoxa moschatellina - Townhall Clock - Moschatel (Adoxaceae)

Townhall Clock This lovely little wildflower is easily overlooked, because it is so small (the flowers are typically just 5mm across), greenish even when in fiull bloom, and has leaves very similar to those of many other plants that are more common.

Close inspection of a flower head shows immediately the reason for the common name, as each stem bears five flowers, one on the top and one on each of the four side faces of a cube. Each flower have five petals and five stamens, although because each of the stamens are split into two parts, it looks at first glance as though there are ten stamens.

Moschatel is the other common name given to this wildflower of damp, shady places, but Townhall Clock is so much more descriptive.

Townhall Clock - close-up of flowers The most likely places to find this wildflower, which belongs to a small family, the Adoxaceae that are quite closely related to Elder,Honeysuckle and other members of the family Caprifoliaceae.

Woodland edges, beside paths through mixed or deciduos woods, at the edges of tree-lined streams and occasionally in hedgerows.

Townhall Clock produces its flowers in April and May.