Potteric Carr has a bedrock geology of Sherwood Sandstone dating back to the Triassic period. This is overlain with drift deposits of marls, clays and peat. Railway embankments and trackbeds criss-cross the site, with Magnesian Limestone imported for their construction which has resulted in pockets of higher pH. Most grassland on the Reserve is neutral. Other habitats vary from open water to mature broadleaved woodland, with Phragmites reed-fen and reed-swamp, wet willow and alder carr, and a number of other vegetation types within the 500 acre (203ha) site. This has resulted in an varied mixture of flowering plants, grasses and ferns, including some specialised or uncommon species for South Yorkshire.
(with annotations and English names)
In alphabetical order, with scientific names, but not annotated, to the end of 2011, compiled by Ken Woolley.
Orchids of Potteric Carr NR
Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera left © Ken Woolley and right Allan Parker aRPS
Common Twayblade Listera ovata both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Broad-leaved Helleborine Epipactis helleborine © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii © Ken Woolley
Left, Southern Marsh Orchid Dactylorhiza pratetermissa and right, Pyramidal Orchid Anacamptis pyramidalis both images © Ken Woolley
Some Flora which are uncommon at Potteric Carr NR
Hedge Bindweed Calystegia sepium both images © Ken Woolley
Water Soldier Stratiotes aloides © Ken Woolley
Left, Hemp Agrimony Eupatorium cannabinum © Ken Woolley and right Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Water Violet Hottonia palustris © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Musk Thistle Carduus nutans © Ken Woolley
Left, Common Cotton-grass Eriophorum angustifolium and right, Hare's-tail Cotton-grass Eriophorum vaginatum both images © Ken Woolley
Columbine Aquilega garden species (almost certainly introduced via railway) both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Some Flora which are common at Potteric Carr NR
Hybrid Bluebell Hyacynthoides non-scriptus x H. hispanica Bluebell © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Clustered Dock Rumex conglomeratus © Ken Woolley and right Coltsfoot Tussilago farfara © Allan Parker ARPS
Common Dog Violet Viola riviniana both images © Ken Woolley
Common Fleabane Pulicaria dysenterica © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Common Knapweed Centaurea nigra agg. and right rayed form, white variant both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Common Stork's-bill Erodium cicutarium © Ken Woolley
Left, Common Toadflax Linaria vulgaris © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Cowslip Primula veris © Ken Woolley
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Daisy Bellis perennis and right, Devils-bit Scabious Succisa pratensis both images Ken Woolley
Left, Dog's Mercury Mercurialis perennis © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Field Pansy Viola arvensis © Ken Woolley
Left, Fox and Cubs Pilosella aurantiaca © Ken Woolley and right, Foxglove Digitalis purpurea © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata and right, Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Great Willowherb Epilobium hirsutum and right, Ground-ivy Glechoma hederacea both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Hedge Woundwort Stachys sylvatica and right, Lesser Celandine Ranunculus ficaria both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum fresh leaves © Ken Woolley and right, twisted stems © Allan Parker ARPS
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum flower © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Marsh Thistle Cirsium palustre and right, white form both images © Ken Woolley
Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Musk Mallow Malva moschata Ken Woolley and right Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Perforate St. John's Wort Hypericum perforatum and right Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria both images © Ken Woolley
Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea © Allan Parker ARPS and right, Oxford Ragwort Senecio squalidus © Ken Woolley
Left, Primrose Primula vulgaris and right, Self-heal Prunella vulgaris both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Water Mint Mentha aquatica and right, Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Wild Angelica Angelica sylvestris and right White Bryony Bryonia dioica both images © Ken Woolley
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca left, flowers and right, fruit and both images © Ken Woolley
Yellow Iris Iris pseudacorus left, © Ken Woolley and right, © Allan Parker ARPS
Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris © Allan Parker ARPS Yellow-wort Blackstonia perfoliata © Ken Woolley
Some Grasses, Rushes and Sedges at Potteric Carr NR
Left, Hare's-tail Cotton-grass Eriophorum vaginatum and right, Common Cotton-grass Eriophorum angusti-folium both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Pendulous Sedge Carex pendula and right, Oval Sedge Carex ovalis both images © Ken Woolley
Left, Field Wood-rush Luzula campestris and right, Branched Bur-reed Sparganium erectum both images © Ken Woolley
Common Reed Phragmites australis both images © Ken Woolley
Bulrush Typha angustifolia both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Meadow Foxtail Alopecurus pratensis and right, Cock's-foot Dactylis glomerata both images © Ken Woolley
Bracken and Ferns of Potteric Carr
Bracken Pteridium aquilinum left, © Ken Woolley and right © Allan Parker ARPS
Hart's-tongue Fern Phyllitis scolopendrium © Ken Woolley
Black Spleenwort Asplenium adiantum-nigrum © Ken Woolley
Some Trees, Shrubs and Bushes at Potteric Carr NR
Left, Alder Alnus glutinosa male catkins and female flowers and right, Ash Fraxinus excelsior leaf buds both images © Ken Woolley
Alder Buckthorn Frangula alnus berries © Peter Dawson
Left, Apple Malus domestica blossom and right, Pear Pyrus pyraster blossom both images © Ken Woolley
Beech Fagus sylvatica left leaf bud © Ken Woolley and right, autumn leaves © Allan Parker ARPS
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa blossom © Ken Woolley
Dog Rose Rosa cannina flower both images © Ken Woolley
Grey Poplar Populus x canescens © Ken Woolley
Left, Pedunculate (English) Oak Quercus robur © Allan Parker ARPS and right tree in hedgerow © Ken Woolley
Left, Pedunculate (English) Oak Quercus robur acorn and right galls both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Field Maple Acer campestre leaves emerging © Allan Parker ARPS and right, flowers © Ken Woolley
Field Maple Acer campestre autumn leaves © Allan Parker ARPS
Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus left, lowers and right berries and autumn leaves both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Goat Willow Salix caprea left male © Ken Woolley and right female © Allan Parker ARPS
Gorse Ulex europaeus flowers both images © Ken Woolley
Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna left, fresh leaves © Allan Parker ARPS and right, flowers © Ken Woolley
Hazel Corylus avellana left female flower and right, male catkins © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Holly Ilex aquifolium berries and right, Rowan (Mountain Ash) Sorbus aucuparia flowers both images © Ken Woolley
Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris © Ken Woolley
Left, Silver Birch Betula pendula trees © Ken Woolley centre, male catkins and right, winter tree , © Allan Parker ARPS
Wayfaring Tree Viburnum lantana both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Left, Wild Cherry Prunus avium flowers and right Wych Elm Ulmus glabra flowers both images © Ken Woolley