I saw White Bryony up the Welcombe Hills

It was pleasing to see the emergence of some familiar plants when I was walking the other day. One such is the White Bryony, a perennial climbing plant widespread in the Welcombe Hills. It seems to suddenly appear and when it does grows rapidly using spring-like tendrils to anchor it as it climbs. It's actually a member of the Gourd Family. The flowers are small, as you can see, greenish-yellow and dwarfed by the large leaves. In the autumn it will have red berries.

I came across this one in Clopton Field climbing the fence that divides Clopton and Welcombe sides. You should also find one climbing the fence surrounding the old swimming pool and another regularly appears at the foot of that forlorn ash tree (that refuses to give in despite being hollow and limbless) which is just up from the swimming pool.

By the way, the Black Bryony is an entirely different species being a member of the Yam Family. Also a climbing perennial, it doesn't have tendrils and the leaf is heart-shaped. I'll post some pictures when I come across one.