Perhaps a Papaver such as P. somniferum or other sp.?

Thanks, Peren. Agreed the 'nodding' bud is reminiscent of Papaver, but I don't think it is.

Looking at the pic again, I noticed a leaf that was a bit different from the Plantago.

Just nipped out and had a rummage around in the Plantago foliage, and, yes, there is another plant hidden away.

I exposed this leaf. Much hairier than the Plantago, with very prominant hairs along the mid-rib and warty.

Back to the books.

Fof

it reminds me of Plantago coronopus

only admired it once at a friends place, and read about it

the seed heads and general foliage fit very well

Thanks, linaria.

Who didn't read the post? :-))))

Yes it is P. coronopus, but there is something else growing up from within the depths of it.

Yep, definitely two separate plants. My guess is the non-plantain is something in the Asteraceae like a Hieracium. What was the source of the plant?

P.s. when you say ’gathered’ I'm a bit worried you mean from the wild. Please tell me I‘m wrong.

The pubescent bud and leaves in the 3rd pic look like maybe Hedypnois rhagadioloides, but the smooth bud and stem in the second photo look different. Maybe there's 4 plants.

Jay. Thanks. That is an interesting observation. I've just had a really close look and I can say that the bud in Pics 2 & 3 appear to be the same, but the stem in Pic 2 does have a few hairs, but nothing like the hirsute stem in Pic 3.

I don't think Hedypnois rhagadioloides is a candidate, as I can find no mention of it being found in UK.

Only time will tell.

Floral. I think I will just accept Hieracium agg. at this point in time and see what it develops into. Holy Moses. A genus I have no desire to even attempt to do an ID. I did break a couple of the leaves but there didn't appear to have a milky sap. It is only a little (young?) plant, though.

As to provenance, I can't recall exactly, but somewhere on the N coast of West Cornwall. Yes I did gather from the wild, but I should have said rescued. It was growing on the top of a Cornish hedge that somebody, probably driving a lorry, had decided was in his way and had attempted to move it. This little group was on a part that was still standing - just.

So yes. I plead guilty but with mitigating circumstances.

OK. Just checking😉