Comarum palustre Marsh Cinquefoil

A rhizomatous plant of swamps, fens and marshes, preferring rather nutrient-poor conditions and particularly where there is some degree of base-richness. The pinnate leaves have 5-7 leaflets and the dark reddish-purple flowers are very striking when they appear in summer. It often occurs in large amounts in herb-rich fens with other swamp species such as Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), Bottle Sedge (Carex rostrata) and Water Horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile) and it is a characteristic species of the community designated as S27 in National Vegetation Classification (NVC) system. It is widespread in Britain, but absent from much of southern England and it is found throughout Wales but may be declining as a result of habitat loss. It is locally common in West Glamorgan and there are significant population in Crymlyn Fen, Pant y Saes Fen (and along the nearby Tennant Canal) and also in swampy habitats in upper Dulais Valley, but it has been lost from many habitats that have been drained.

Native