Geum urbanum - Wood Avens - (Rosaceae)

This plant is common throughout the UK and Ireland.

Wood Avens love shady places: the northern sides of country lanes, the edges of woodland, drier land near the margins of well-shaded ponds and lakes. This flower is a member of the rose family, and its blooms are typically 1 cm to 1.5 cm in diameter

Wood Avens

Where the ground is damp, Wood Avens can grown rather tall and spindly. In drier soil they are more delicate plants and rarely appear in great clusters. On close inspection their blooms are sometimes very attractive, especially those that occur with bright yellow petals tinged with crimson. The seeds are burr-like and are often distributed after being caught in the coats of rabbits and other furry animals.

Wood Avens in found throughout Europe and we saw many plants in the Triglav National Park in Slovenia during a visit in June 2011.

The plant on this page was photographed in West Wales in June.