Wanstead Flats - Plant List - Part 1
• for Part 2 - click here
• for Part 3 - click here
for a Map showing recording grid, click here
Note : "Stace" indicates the page number of the plant in Stace 2nd Edition
p = Previous (Historical) record; COL = City of London Cemetery; EF = Essex Flora
after Part 3 is a list of plants that I have not personally found or seen.
| Stace | Species | Common Name | Location |
| 14 | Osmunda regalis | Royal Fern | South edge of Alexandra Lake, just east of a group of birches, growing with Soft Rush and Bramble, 25/05/2017 |
| 22 | Phyllitus scolopendrium | Hart's-tongue Fern | J4 on east wall of Heatherwood Close, 01/02/05; same area on 25/04/14 |
| 24 | Asplenium trichomanes | Maidenhair Spleenwort | J4 on east wall of Heatherwood Close, 01/02/05 |
| 33 | Dryopteris filix-mas | Male Fern | J4 on east wall of Heatherwood Close and in soil below, 01/02/05 |
| 36 | Azolla filiculoides | Water Fern | L3 4186 east edge of Alexandra Lake, first seen in Sept 1996; not present 2007 |
| 45 | Pinus nigra ssp. laricio | Corsican Pine | L3 a tree in wood north of Alexandra Lake. Still present 2015 |
| 51 | Taxus baccata | Yew | Increasing, particularly beside roadside trees in Aldersbrook Road; also near Sidney Road Copse. |
| 72 | Laurus nobilis | Sweet Bay | F6, one tree and several shrubs by Belgrave Wayleave in 2005 |
| 76 | Ceratophyllum demersum | Rigid Hornwort | p F3 Model Yacht Pond 02/10/80 |
| 80 | Nigella damascena | Love-in-a-mist | F6 on bank by Bushwood roadside 05/05/09 (Wanless 2003, F2 pond-dipping area of Jubilee Pond; by Centre Road and by Lake House Road) |
| 82 | Consolida ajacis | Larkspur | G2 very close to houses by Centre Road, 11/07/05 |
| 82 | Anemone appenina | Blue Anemone | by Bushwood, Wanstead Flats 08/04/06 |
| 88 | Ranunculus acris | Meadow Buttercup | Grassland |
| 88 | Ranunculus repens | Creeping Buttercup | Ditch by Capel Road |
| 88 | Ranunculus bulbosus | Bulbous Buttercup | Capel Road ditch; grassland |
| 90 | Ranunculus sceleratus | Celery-leaved Buttercup | H5 marshy area - no longer present since area dried up; F2 by Jubilee Pond 17/09/2004; F2 30/10/04 |
| 91 | Ranunculus ficaria | Lesser Celandine | Very few plants on Flats. I5, a patch by Hawthorns opposite church; J5 ditch near Aldersbrook Road and in wooded area. A few beneath trees at rear of Belgrave Road. N2 in grass 06/05/81 |
| 93 | Ranunculus sp. | Water Crowfoot | Alexandra Lake, 03/07/2010 |
| 95 | Aquilegia sp. | Columbine | O1 by COL fence beneath Hawthorns |
| 101 | Mahonia aquifolium | Oregon Grape | By Bushwood roadside 06/04/06; L1/2 by Capel Roadside 17/03/09 |
| 102 | Papaver somniferum | Opium Poppy | I1 occasional in ditch |
| 103 | Papaver rhoeas | Common Poppy | K2 opposite 117 Capel Road, 19/06/77 |
| 105 | Chelidonium majus | Greater Celandine | F/G/6/7 by house fence 05/05/09 |
| 105 | Macleaya (x kewensis) | Plume Poppy | F5/6 one tall 8ft. plant growing right by garden fence 29/07/79 |
| 107 | Pseudofumaria lutea | Yellow Corydalis | G2 in lane from Sidney Road, 05/02/05 |
| 110 | Fumaria officinalis | Common Fumitory | J4/5 near Aldersbrook changing rooms, 26/04/07 |
| 111 | Platanus x hispanica | London Plane | A common road-side planting (EF "48 Wanstead Flats") |
| 112 | Ulmus glabra | Wych Elm | G3 by Centre Road, one tree |
| 114 | Ulmus procera | English Elm | In many roadside locations, commonly as suckers |
| 115 | Ulmus minor ssp. minor | Smooth-leaved or East Anglian Elm | p Two trees by Belgrave Wayleave, one of which was in an adjacent garden, on 05/05/09. No longer present in 2015 (Hanson 1990 TQ 405858,402867); |
| 117 | Urtica dioica | Nettle | various locations; F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000; F2 west bank of Jubilee Pond 30/10/04 |
| 118 | Juglans regia | Common Walnut | K1/2 a small tree on ditch-side by Capel Road, opp. about 100, 13/09/2008- still present, much bigger, in 2014 |
| 120 | Castanea sativa | Sweet Chestnut | I2 one specimen in South Copse; |
| 120 | Fagus sylvatica | Beech | Common as planted specimens in woods and copses. |
| 122 | Quercus cerris | Turkey Oak | H4 two trees in west end of Long Wood; I3 copse; L3 one tree by lake; small tree in Monkey's Parade |
| 122 | Quercus ilex | Holm Oak | Not found during 1981 survey, but since increasing - particularly near roadsides and where sheltered by mature trees of other species |
| 122 | Quercus petraea | Sessile Oak | L2, a tree by Capel Road opposite 150, Aug 2007 |
| 123 | Quercus robur | English Oak | Common, particularly lining roadsides (eg east end of Capel Road) |
| 123 | Quercus rubra | Red Oak | G3, five specimens.; H4 I2 I3 I4 J2 L3 |
| 124 | Betula pendula | Silver Birch | F5 back of houses 20/09/92; G4, a line of mature trees running NE-SE. In 1993 seedlings, presumably from these, were numerous in grassland to SE; L3 on islands of Alexandra Lake. |
| 126 | Alnus glutinosa | Alder | p. one tree in L3, north of Alexandra Lake, was gone by 1991 |
| 127 | Carpinus betulus | Hornbeam | Present in some copses |
| 127 | Corylus avellana | Hazel | A small tree growing by Aldersbrook Road, 22/03/11 |
| 128 | Mirabilis jalapa | Marvel-of-Peru | F2/3, a single plant on east edge of Jubilee Pond on 17/09/04 |
| 140 | Chenopodium album | Fat Hen | F2 near ditch by Sidney Rd, 05/11/04; G3 west side of Centre Road, flowering following fire, 16/10/2018 |
| 144 | Atriplex prostrata | Spear-leaved Orache | Capel Road ditch 04/08/76 |
| 146 | Atriplex patula | Common Orache | Capel Road ditch 11/08/75; 04/08/76; (Wanless 2003, a single plant on the margin of Jubilee Pond) |
| 152 | Amaranthus hybridus | Green Amaranth | L3 one plant at north edge of Alexandra Lake 09/09/05; K2 many plants on introduced soil, September 2010 |
| 162 | Stellaria media | Common Chickweed | Common |
| 163 | Stellaria graminea | Lesser Stitchwort | G5 and G2 west of Centre Road 24/06/77; H4 south of Long Wood 04/06/79; I3 S.E. of Long Wood 24/05/81; also south of 1953 plantation; I/J3/4 1953 plantation; I5 near Genista; M2; Scattered patches throughout grassland, 2016 |
| 164 | Cerastium tomentosum | Snow-in-Summer | G5 by Lake House Road |
| 165 | Cerastium fontanum ssp. holosteoides | Common Mouse-ear | H3 grassland 30/04/92; I1 ditch opposite Latimer Road, 11/05/77; I4 1953 plantation, 07/04/81 |
| 168 | Sagina procumbens | Procumbent Pearlwort | H5 path leading west from spring 09/06/81 |
| 171 | Spergula arvensis | Corn Spurrey | L2/3 on spoil heap created by dredging of Alexandra Lake 05/06/98 |
| 173 | Spergularia rubra | Sand-spurrey | F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000; J5 car park gravel area. (Baker: F2 or F3 Dames Road Pond bank 17/06/79) |
| 174 | Agrostemma githago | Corn Cockle | K2 opposite 120 Capel Road on bank of ditch, a garden outcast. 23/07/79 |
| 176 | Silene latifolia | White Campion | N2 by Aldersbrook Road, east side. By cemetery wall 06/07/75 and 13/05/77; (Wanless 2003. F2 by pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond); G3 west side of Centre Road, flowering following fire, 16/10/2018 |
| 177 | Saponaria officinalis | Soapwort | G5 near Lake House Road 10/08/79; K2 opposite 127 Capel Road, 26/08/71979; N2, abundant by Rabbits Road, double-flowered form, 06/08/1979 - 18/08/2016 |
| 177 | Silene dioica | Red Campion | G5 Broomfields 15/07/75; G3 west side of Centre Road, 16/10/2018 |
| 183 | Persicaria maculosa | Redshank | In roadside ditches; L2 21/08/04; K3,L3, by Alexandra Lake, 28/09/04; (Wanless 2003: by Jubilee Pond) |
| 184 | Persicaria hydropiper | Water-Pepper | K2 grassland south of Alexandra Lake 1975 |
| 186 | Fallopia japonica | Japanese Knotweed | F5 by house fence 03/06/79 |
| 186 | Polygonum arenastrum | Small-leaved Knotgrass | J5 muddy edge of car park area |
| 186 | Polygonum aviculare | Knotgrass | |
| 187 | Convolvulus arvensis | Black Bindweed | Disturbed ground due to pipe-laying near Rabbits Road bridge 30 August 2008 |
| 190 | Rumex acetosella subsp. Acetosella | Sheep's Sorrel | H4 rough grassland |
| 192 | Rumex cristatus | Greek Dock | J4/4 by Aldersbrook Road 13/05/2015. Increasing along Aldersbrook Road by 2021 |
| 194 | Rumex crispus | Curled Dock | H5 marsh area 16/07/81; (Wanless 2003, F2/3, scattered plants around Jubilee Pond) |
| 195 | Rumex obtusifolius | Broad-Leaved Dock | Various locations; (Wanless 2003, F2/3, north side of Jubilee Pond) |
| 196 | Rumex palustris | Marsh Dock | F2/3, in the peninsular bay and in the pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond (also Wanless, 2003) |
| 206 | Hypericum calycinum | Rose of Sharon | F4 by houses in Belgrave Road wayleave |
| 207 | Hypericum perforatum | Perforate St. John's-wort | M/N2 by cemetery wall 23/08/76; 24/07/77; near Jubilee Pond car park 01/08/08 |
| 210 | Tilia x europaea (vulgaris) | Common Lime | In a number of the copses on the Flats |
| 210 | Tilia cordata | Small-leaved Lime | N2, A single tree by roadside near cemetery, 01/06/2008 |
| 212 | Malva sylvestris | Mallow | Widely scattered |
| 212 | Malva moschata | Musk Mallow | F2/3 at west edge of Jubilee Pond, 26/10/2004 |
| 214 | Lavatera (arborea) | Tree Mallow | H1, by roadside opp. Chestnut Avenue, 2007/8; K1 by roadside opp. 100 Capel Rd. 2008 -2016; F2/3 Dames Road-side, 24/01/2016 |
| 215 | Alcea rosea | Hollyhock | J1, a group of plants against the east wall of the Capel Road changing rooms, 14/07/98; H3, two plants at edge of track parallel to E. side of Centre Road, 18/07/2016; N1, two plants on roadside bank, Station Road cnr. of Forest View Rd., 09/07/2019 |
| 219 | Viola sp. | Garden Pansy | N2 ditch bottom by Aldersbrook Rd. (Hybrid garden pansy) 03/04/77 |
| 220 | Viola odorata | Sweet Violet | G2 near bend of Sidney Road, many at pavement edge and in wood, 17/02/05; on bank by Capel Road near Golden Fleece, 17/03/09 |
| 221 | Viola tricolor | Wild Pansy | G4, a single flower on scraped area 26/07/08. (Wanless 2003, F2, a single clump on the bank of the pond dipping area of Jubilee Pond) |
| 223 | Bryonia dioica | White Bryony | N2 by COL wall |
| 226 | Populus tremula | Aspen | H4 one tree to east of Centre Road In 1992 there had been much regeneration in the form of suckers from this tree; G5, one small tree west of Centre Road. |
| 226 | Populus nigra var. "Italica" | Lombardy Poplar | D4, by houses; F3, one tree on site of old toilets near road junction |
| 227 | Populus x canadensis | Hybrid Black Poplar | H2, one tree by Woodford Road, var. "Serotina"; H3 H4, six trees lining Centre Road; E6, a large tree by Bushwood roadside |
| 234 | Salix fragilis | Crack Willow | L3 on east island of Alex Lake, 05/09/09 |
| 237 | Salix caprea ssp. caprea | Goat Willow | L3 on west island of Alexandra Lake. 1981; L3 banks of Alexandra Lake, 2016 |
| 240 | Salix cinerea | Grey Willow | L3 banks of Alexandra Lake, 2016 |
| 242 | Salix repens | Creeping Willow | I3, two or three patches south of plantation; J3, a patch in south west corner of plantation- not found in 2002; K3, 2 patches west of lake; J4 a patch N. of East Copse, near plaing fields 01/02/05; F4, N of and near Cat and Dog Pond 03/02/05 |
| 250 | Sisymbrium officinale | Hedge Mustard | Ditches; F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000 |
| 250 | Alliaria petiolata | Garlic Mustard | N1 by Forest View Roadside 28/04/81; N2 |
| 250 | Arabidopsis thaliana | Thale Cress | G4 west side of Centre Road ditch bank 04/82; H4, east side of Centre Rd on bank, 10/04/09 |
| 257 | Rorippa palustris | Marsh Yellow-cress | F2 or F3 bank of Model Yacht Pond, August 2000; (Wanless 2003, around Jubilee Pond) |
| 259 | Cardamine hirsuta | Hairy Bitter-cress | F5 one plant by houses 15/04/79; M2 Capel Road ditch 02/04/77 |
| 262 | Lunaria annua | Honesty | F5 N1 roadside June 1991 |
| 263 | Lobularia maritima | Sweet Alison | J1 Capel Roadside 03/07/75; J5 earth tip by changing rooms numerous plants in September 1981 |
| 266 | Cochlearia danica | Danish Scurvy Grass | G4 by Centre Road on Fairground Flats. |
| 267 | Capsella bursa-pastoris | Shepherd's Purse | Common |
| 268 | Thlaspi arvense | Common Field Pennycress | L2 opposite 147-8 Capel Road on 05/05/77 |
| 272 | Lepidium draba | Hoary Cress | E6 west of Bush Wood in grassland; M2 in ditch 23/05/76. Patches in grass and by roads; (a large plant close to the old Sydney Road car park in 2003. Fred Wanless) |
| 273 | Coronopus didymus | Lesser Swine-cress | F3 by W. side of Jubilee Pond, 18/07/2016 |
| 274 | Diplotaxis tenuifolia | Perennial Wall Rocket | Common casual particularly in ditches (L/M2) |
| 274 | Diplotaxis muralis | Annual Wall Rocket | K2, on recently introduced sandy soil, 30/09/2010 |
| 275 | Brassica oleracea | Cabbage | G4/5 08/05/77 |
| 275 | Brassica rapa subsp. campestris | Turnip | J4, a large patch in flower 01/02/05 - check species |
| 276 | Sinapis arvensis | Charlock | Near Aldersbrook changing rooms 02/04/07 |
| 279 | Hirschfeldia incana | Hoary Mustard | F3 by north and east sides of Jubilee Pond 26/10/04 |
| 281 | Raphanus raphanistrum ssp. raphanistrum | Wild Radish | M2 13/05/77; J4 a few plants in flower by mound S. of changing rooms 03/02/05 |
| 281 | Reseda luteola | Weld | F2 by south edge of Jubilee Pond 17/09/04 |
| 282 | Reseda lutea | Wild Mignonette | H2/3 edge of car park on Central Flats on 16/05/12 |
| 288 | Calluna vulgaris | Heather | K2, one tiny patch east edge of track running S.W. from lake. (Present in 1992 and nicely in flower on 31/08/93) - not seen in 2004; G4 visible from Centre Road - a few patches. These increased over the years (to 2016); H4, five small clumps amongst emergent gorse on slope leading down to Brickfield/Dell area, 23/07/2016 |
| 290 | Cyclamen hederifolium | Sowbread | L3, a patch of white-flowered form to north of Alexandra Lake, 12/10/2010 |
| 296 | Primula juliae x P. vulgaris | Primula 'Wanda' | F4 near backs of Belgrave Road houses near Lake House Road. 07/05/79 |
| 300 | Lysimachia nummmularia | Creeping Jenny | L2 opposite. 156 Capel Road 08/07/79; (Wanless 2003, H1 a single plant on drying mud of Angel Pond) |
| 300 | Lysimachia punctata | Dotted Loosestrife | K2 ditch opposite 134 Capel Road |
| 303 | Philadelphus coronarius | Mock Orange | N1 south-east of tree circle 20/06/82 - 1991; another west of tree circle 23/06/06 |
| 305 | Ribes sanquineum | Flowering Currant | H4 in Long Wood. A healthy plant 14/03/2021 |
| 307 | Crassula helmsii | New Zealand Pigmyweed | Plentiful in Angel Pond 12/09/00; K/L2/3 Plentiful around Alexandra Lake in August 2004 |
| 312 | Sedum rupestre | Reflexed Stonecrop | L2 opposite 137 Capel Road 04/07/79. Garden outcast; H4 some established clumps by Centre Road, near Long Wood, 08/07/98 |
| 334 | Rubus idaeus | Raspberry | F4 amongst brambles and Hawthorns 10/08/79; F6 near boundary with Bush Wood |
| 335 | Rubus sect. Glandulosus | Bramble | Widespread |
| 335 | Rubus laciniatus | Cut-leaved Bramble | F6 at corner of house fences, west of boundary of Bush Wood; H/I 3 a patch in rough grassland |
| 344 | Potentilla erecta | Tormentil | H4, two flowers only seen amongst emergent gorse on slope leading down to Brickfields area, 23/07/2016 |
| 344 | Potentilla reptans | Creeping Cinquefoil | Playing fields |
| 354 | Aphanes arvensis | Parsley-piert | I/J3, just off edge of playing fields, a few patches. 02/04/2020 |
| 361 | Rosa canina | Dog Rose | G5 behind bus stop in Lake House Rd 12/07/81; H4 two bushes east end of Long Wood; I4 in 1953 plantation, 14/06/76; K2 Capel Road-side hedge |
| 365 | Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn | E6 near Bushwood (rd); H5 near spring; L2 on east island of Alexandra Lake; L3 by Aldersbrook Road-side |
| 365 | Prunus cerasifera | Cherry Plum | var. pissardii near junction of Station Road/Aldersbrook Road |
| 365 | Prunus avium | Wild Cherry | N1 two or three trees at south west corner of square; two trees north edge near buildings, 10/04/81 |
| 367 | Prunus serrulata | Japanese Cherry | N1 one tree flowers late April (28/04/81). Pink double-flowered. Nearby Prunus avium flower earlier (10/04/81); two trees in N1 but nearer O1. These are relicts of the pre-fab estate. |
| 368 | Chaenomeles sp. | Chinese Quince | I5, Opposite Park Road in ditch 11/04/94; F2 in ditch by Sidney Road 05/11/04; L/M2, a shrub in grassland 01/04/11 |
| 369 | Pyrus sp. | Pear | 15,H5 near Aldersbrook Road |
| 369 | Malus sp. | Apple | G5 one tree by Lake House Rd.; L3 on east island of Alexandra Lake |
| 370 | Sorbus aucuparia | Rowan | G5 near Lake House Road; 1996 on east island of Alexandra Lake; seedling in Angel Pond, 20/05/08 |
| 374 | Sorbus aria | Whitebeam | J2 two trees in copse, present in 2010 - now gone. M3, by Aldersbrook Road, a small tree, 3 or 4 metres tall, 29/04/2022. |
| 386 | Cotoneaster sp. | Cotoneaster spp. | In various locations |
| 388 | Cotoneaster lacteus | Late Cotoneaster | E3, established on Forest at N.edge of Harrow Road Wood, originating in adjacent gardens, 03/02/05 |
| 395 | Pyracantha coccinea | Firethorn | M3 with hawthorns opposite COL gate 13/10/80 |
| 396 | Crataegus persimilis | Broad-leaved Cockspur Thorn | F3 near the junction of Belgrave Wayleave and Blake Hall Road; K4 near Aldersbrook car-park |
| 397 | Crataegus laevigata | Midland Hawthorn | I5 near. Aldersbrook Rd and bus shelter, at least one among many C. monogyna; J2 by Capel Road is a red-flowered form; L2 near lake is also red flowered, although this was not present by 2020. |
| 397 | Crataegus monogyna | Hawthorn | L/M/2/3 particularly, where forms a small "wood"; common elsewhere. |
| for Part 2 - click here for Part 3 - click here | |||