Alchemilla vulgaris - Lady's Mantle (Rosaceae)

Lady's mantleMore than 200 microspecies of Alchemilla vulgaris are known to exist in Europe. These perennial wildflowers, members of the rose family, are sometimes grown in gardens - mainly for their leaves, which collect sparkling water droplets. Indeed, Alchemilla mollis, a rather larger species but otherwise very similar, is quite a common garden escape that appears in hedgerows and on unkempt grassland.

The tiny greeny-yellow flowers, which bloom from June through to September, have no petals.

The specimen on this page was photographed in South Wales in June.