On reflection a few more words were probably needed on the previous post but was just too tired last night having been in full sun and a howling gale for most of the afternoon so......
Common dodder (Cuscuta epithymum)
Looks like a pile of dead roots but infact it is an annual, parasitic plant, which in late-spring a slender stem emerges from germinating over-wintered seeds, and entwines itself, always anti-clockwise, around the nearest host plant. Look carefully and there is also a Pyramidal Orchid about to flower.
Another parasitic plant this species feeding on Knapweed, unlike most other plants the Knapweed Broomrape lacks any chlorophyll, so has no green leaves, unable to photosynthesise, it is dependant on taking all its nutrition from the roots of the host plant.
Pasqueflower
Only recorded on 19 uk sites and is therefore nationally rare, we were lucky to find this one flower as they flower around Eastertime.
A new orchid for us, a shame we were a little late in the season as they were really just going over, classed as endangered.
No comments:
Post a Comment