May 23, 2015

Two plants associated with cereals


In this rye field the farmer has forgotten to apply weedkiller on the edges. This suits the wild flowers well! Carrot Burr-parsley (Caucalis platycarpos) is a small plant that nearly became extinct in Perigord. Only in some forgotten corners it survives. Now it is in flower, and soon the fruits with many tiny spines will ripen. (See also here).




It is very well possible to miss Carrot Burr-parsley, but it is impossible not to see Greater Venus's Looking-glass (Legousia speculum-veneris) that grows in the same place. It is too blue!



Here above, early in the morning, the flowere are not yet open.






When the sun rises in the sky the blue stars open up completely.