Wood Avens, Herb Bennet, Geum urbanum

Common Name: Wood Avens, Herb Bennet

Geum urbanum, more commonly known as Wood Avens or Herb Bennet, is a rather straggly plant growing to 60cm in height, with hairy stems and pinnate leaves. The open, erect, yellow flowers look a bit like the cinquefoils, but are rather small and inconspicuous by comparison, turning into tight, slightly prickly fruit-heads.

It is a winter-green perennial of free draining mildly acidic to calcareous soils and likes semi shaded areas where competition from more dominant species is kept in check. It is therefore found in habitats such as hedgerows, woodland edges, coppiced woodlands and new or secondary woodlands.

Regeneration is almost entirely by seed which can be dispersed a considerable distance when caught in clothing or fur. Flowers June to August and is found throughout the UK except N. Scotland and Scottish Highlands.

https://www.uknature.co.uk is a website dedicated to showing the immense diversity of UK nature and wildlife. Our vast range of habitats, from lowland arable to snow covered mountains, from storm-ravaged coastlines to peaceful inland freshwater lakes and rivers, from dry, sandy heaths to deciduous and coniferous forests, all these habitats contribute to the abundance of UK nature. We have wild birds in huge numbers either residing or visiting our shores (597 recorded species as at July 2013) and we must also not forget the humble back garden with its grass lawns, flower beds filled with nectar rich flowers, shrubs and trees, all designed to attract huge numbers of insects such as bees, moths, butterflies and hoverflies; and finally the small ponds which provide safe havens for frogs, toads, newts and even slow worms and grass snakes. www.uknature.co.uk is the showcase for my personal passion, photographing uknature in all its glory. I sincerely hope you all enjoy the fruits of my labours.