Andromeda polifolia Bog Rosemary R DDD N
This flower looks very much like one of the heathers and it is a member of the Ericaceae. It grows in good numbers on Flaxmere, a floating bog in Cheshire alongside Vaccinium oxycoccus (Cranberry). They look very good together flowering in May. The biggest problem finding and photographing flowers like these is the terrain. You must look very carefully hopping from tuft to tuft in between muddy pools of unknown depth There is only one safe path impassable safely in a wet spring.
Andromeda polifolia is found in the middle of the island of Great Britain and is absent from southern England and most of Scotland. It is found in Wales and the centre (boggy bit) of Ireland.
Flaxmere, Cheshire, 17th May 2004 and 9th May 2005
Added on 31st October 2004, updated 5th July 2008, updated Feb 26th 2010, updated Se3 23rd April 2010, updated 4thn October 2013