Wild Flower

Greater Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus)

Greater Birds-foot Trefoil is a yellow flowering perennial, similar in appearance to Common Birds-foot Trefoil although taller with grey-green foliage. Both wild flowers bear the distinctive pale to dark yellow flowers and long cylindrical seed pods. It is also a Laval food plant for a number of British Butterflies.

Where could I find it?

Greater Birds-foot Trefoil may be found in damp grassland and amongst grasses on edge of woodland tracks and verges.

When does it flower?

Greater Birds-foot Trefoil flowers appear June – August, on long hollow stems. They provide a nectar source for long tongued insects like Butterflies, Moths and Bees in exchange for pollination.

Greater Birds-foot Trefoil (ILotus-uliginosus) close-up on yellow flower

Greater Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus)

Plant Information

Name: Greater Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus uliginosus)
Family: fabaceae (Pea Family)
Similar in appearence to: Common Birds-foot Trefoil
Flowering: June-August
Height: around 50-60cm
larval food plant: Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus), Dingy Skipper, Wood White
Nectar Plant to: Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Brown Argus, Common Blue.
Photographed: 26th June 2012.
Location: South Lincolnshire

Cowslips (primula veris) a popular spring wild flower

An early Spring herbaceous perennial, with yolk yellow bell shaped short stalked flowers, on stems up to 30cm high seen from April to June. The leaves are in a Basal rosette, arranged around the base of the flower stem, long oval shaped wrinkled and hairy underneath.

Locally common, in central and southern areas of the UK, Cowslips are often found on open unimproved calcareous grassland, other places include Roadside verges, Embankments, Gardens and tracks.

Cowslips provide a welcome nectar source for Butterflies, Bees and many other insects in early spring, it is also an essential larval food plant for the Duke of Burgundy Butterfly.

Cowslip close-up of yellow flowers in spring

Cowslip (prumula veris) close-up of flowers

Cowslips (primula veris) growing in a Wild Flower Meadow

grow Cowslips from seed

Grow Cowslips (Primula veris) from seed, they are available from Thompson & Morgan, for more information Visit Thompson & Morgan Here

Plant Information

Name: Cowslip (primula veris)
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Also Known As: Herb Peter, Fairy Cups
Where: Found locally through-out Britain except far north of Scotland
Habitat: Often found on – Meadows, Roadside verges, Embankments, Gardens and tracks.
When does it flower? April to June.
Fruiting: n/a.
Height around: 30cm.
Larval Food Plant: Duke of Burgundy Butterfly (Hamearis lucina)

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) in Wild Flower Meadows.

about

A yellow flowering annual plant, with thin leaves with round toothed edges, often used in the creation of wildflower meadows.The leaves grow up the stem in pairs, the small tube like yellow flowers point out from the seed casings, which sit in the base of the leaves on the upper part of stem.

The plants name Yellow Rattle is taken from the noise produced by the dry mature seeds, inside the thin papery seed casing, often found around the end of July.

Yellow Rattle is a Hemi-parasitic plant, taking some of the nutrients it needs, by growing into the roots of the grasses that surround it, this weakens and restricts the competing grass growth helping more of its seeds to reach the soil year after year, this restricted growth also helps many other species of wild meadow flowers to become established.

Yellow Rattle in Meadow

Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) wildflower closeup

Plant Information

Name: Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)
Group: Orobanchaceae, Broomrape family
Also Known As: Cockscomb, Hay Rattle.
Where: Commonly found through-out Britain
Habitat: Well drained undisturbed areas – Meadows, Road side verges, woodland rides and tracks.
When does it flower? May to September.
Height around: 45cm.
Larval Food Plant: Unknown
Butterfly Nectar Plant for: Common Blue, Brown Argus, Brimstone, Orange tip also very beneficial for Bees and many other insects.
Other parasitic wildflowers: Knapweed Broomrape (orobanche elatior)
Photographed: Castor Hanglands Nature Reserve 21st May 11