NEN Gallery

This plant is stout and almost hairless. The flowerhead at the end of the stalk has many white flowers often tinged with pink that curl in at the edges, there are no sepals. The leaves are much divided and form large swollen sheaths where they join the stem. The whole plant can have a purplish tinge. The flattened oval fruit has thin wings that help it disperse in the wind. It is common in wet woods and fens. The plant was thought to help digestion and stomach complaints and got its name from angelic, it is still used in the decoration of cakes. Picture taken 8th July 2006 at woods near Old Warden, Bedforshire. For pictures of the plant in flower see the August plant diary.