The flora of Périgord in South-West France is abundant and diverse. In this blog you can find, in pictures, brief encounters with several hundreds of wild flowers and plants as they grow here in French Perigord. Following the seasons other species are added. An index of scientific and English names you find below on the right.

Corine Oosterlee is a botanist and photographer and she offers guided Botanical Walks and other activities around plants and vegetation in nature in Perigord. Do you want to know more? On www.baladebotanique.fr you can find more information. For Corine's photography see www.corineoosterlee.com. Both websites also in English.

Enjoy!




December 10, 2010

Stinking hellebore


In a wood grows this strange protuberance, a sudden patch of color amidst dark green palmate leaves from last season.


It is the new sprout of a Stinking hellebore (Helleborus foetidus). Yes, it does stink, you'll discover the smell when you rub a leaf between your hands.























In February or March the sprout will have developed into a flowering stem with green, bell-shaped flowers. Not unlike the cultivated Christmas roses that are supposed to flower around Chrismas (but alas, not always do ...). It is from the same family.