Russian Comfrey   
     See flora of the marsh
Previous image. See next image.
The marsh contains a great number of comfrey plants, mainly Russian Comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum) and Common Comfrey.. Both plants are quite variable. Russian Comfrey flowers are normally purple but they can be quite pale. Similarly, Common Comfrey mostly has cream flowers, they can also be very purple.

One of the most obvious differences between the two plants lies in the way the leaves branch from the main stem. In Russian Comfrey, the 'wings' along the edges of the leaves do not continue down the stem as they do in Common Comfrey.

Russian Comfrey is a hybrid of Common Comfrey and Rough Comfrey (Symphytum asperum) and was introduced as a 'green manure' plant. It can be used to activate compost, or rotted to make a liquid plant feed. Organic gardeners use the variety Bocking 14 which produces little viable seed. Click link to see close up of flower. Location Coppermill Field.
(Photo: marshWalker, 30/May/2014)
Click link to see close up of flower .
   
Lea Marshes
 
Click this link to return to text.