Pollen found preserved in the ground has shown that the ribwort plant has been growing in Britain for over 5,000 years. Because ribwort grows in alkaline soils in wide-open fields, past deforestation would provide ample opportunity for the plant to grow. Today, it is one of the most widespread plants in Britain and Europe.

The leaves of the hair-covered ribwort are thin and oval shaped with five raised veins going up the leaf. The stem can be from 15 - 40cm tall, usually towards the higher end of the range. The stem is also coated in tiny hairs.

The head of the plant is most recognisable. It is dense, cone-shaped and dark green in colour. The bottom half is covered in what will become ribwort flowers from April to August.

The flowers are made up of four tiny brown petals, which come out flat at right angles. The four stamen and sepals are white/light yellow, and in the middle of these is a short brown point. The fact that there are four petals, stamens and sepals is odd, as this does not comply with the Fibonnaci sequence¹, and much of nature does comply with the sequence. To remind you, the sequence starts 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13... why do you think you hardly ever see a four-leafed clover?

The leaves and flowers grow from the bottom of the plant, saving a young plant from being eaten by cows or mowed by a gardener. Like a cockroach, even if the top is gone, the ribwort can still continue to grow.

Kids sometimes play with ribworts, if they are so bored they have nothing better to do. If you hold the end of the stem and try to take off the head of your friend's ribwort by hitting it, you can waste a few decent minutes. Alternatively, you can loop the end around the back of the head, and pull sharply on the stem. This is meant to fire the head as a projectile, but the manoeuvre rarely works.