Jack Go To Bed At Noon
Last year this rather exotic looking flower appeared on mine and several other allotments for the first time. Having been stumped (again) by Mr Allotment Warden as to its identity, I rushed home to find out what it was. It's salsify, aka the marvellous Jack Go To Bed At Noon - named as such because its flowers always close by midday. Here you can see both open and closed flowers - making it seem even more exotic and alien than in the first picture. I think this must be the cultivated version because the flower in my Francis Rose Wild Flower Key looks exactly the same in form, but is bright yellow in colour and called meadow salsify . Its other common name is Goatsbeard, which must be a nod to the fantastic dandelion-like clock which forms the seed head. With 'parachutes' like those shown above, who knows how far our plotted plants came from. I rather like the photographic dissection of the seedhead found in this link . Salsify is edible: its lateral shoots and fl
Had to peer to do so!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteEsther - so did I at the time!
ReplyDeleteLea - thank you :)
BTW on Sunday there was a programme on BBC4 about Weeds (a repeat I think). Buddleia was cited as one of the v worst weeds. It costs our rail network £millions to keep it vaguely under control owing to its ability to root in the tiniest of cracks and production of many thousands of seeds per plant.
Buddleja is such a tenacious plant - the John Lewis Nurseries over at Longstock hold the national collection and also breed them - they have some amazing colours.
ReplyDeleteThe plant in your picture helps to give scale to the mural - great way to brighten up dull buildings
I remember being so surprised at buddleia growing in eaves troughs and cracks in walls in the UK. In eastern Canada, it often dies to the ground each winter, and any seedlings rarely survive. On the west coast, though, I understand it has become a similar pest, bullying in where it isn't wanted.
ReplyDeleteBuddleias can be such a menace! Great shot.
ReplyDeleteZoe - they grow out of such tiny cracks don't they? The picture's from Bristol. They had an international graffiti art festival back in the simmer and the results are amazing.
ReplyDeleteHelen - it dies back here in the winter too and springs back with a vengeance next season. 'Bullying' is a good word. Despite its attractiveness to butterflies, it's not a plant I like particularly.
Janet - thanks :)
i can spot the live plant!
ReplyDeleteMinna - good!
ReplyDelete