Selfheal

After the recent rain, and thanks to a slightly longer time between mowing, large patches of small purple flowers are suddenly appearing in the grassy areas around Greenwood House and the Gym. I thought how attractive these looked yesterday, alongside the daisies, buttercups, plantains, and birds-foot trefoil. I was happily going to post pictures of them thinking they were Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) but I have just discovered that I am completely wrong. They are different. I think they are Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) which is far more interesting. They are one of our native edible plants and are reputed to have medicinal properties. If I have got the identification wrong, could you let me know?

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