February

From Discover Newquay

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February 2009

by Wayne Lowery

February brings with it the first signs that spring is just around the corner, as the earliest flowering wildflowers of the year bring a little flush of colour to the winter landscape. A few local wildflowers and shrubs to watch for over the coming month are the Common Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor), Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), Ramsons (Allium ursinum), Spring Squill (Scilla verna), and Primrose (Primula vulgaris).

The Primrose derived its name from the medieval scholars, to whom it was known as prima rosa, meaning first rose due to it being one of the first wildflowers of the year. It was widely used by these scholars for many things including flavourings for wine and fish and used in ointments for cuts. It is a fairly common wildflower found around the Newquay area favouring shaded woods and hedgerows, one area in particular is the woods alongside the stream at St Mawgan Village on the outskirts of Newquay.

One butterfly species associated with the primrose is the Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni). This large and long-lived yellow butterfly can appear late in the month awaken from hibernation on warm days. These butterflies favour yellow flowers especially primroses in the spring and favour purple and mauve later in the warmer months.

Other butterflies that also start to make an appearance are the Peacock (Inachis oi), Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae), Small White (Artogeia rapae), Large White (Pieris brassicae) and possibly the Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) should it manage to survive its hibernation through the winter.

Please feel free to contact the site with any other records of plants and animals you may encounter throughout the month ahead.

Wayne Lowery

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