July 21, 2016

'Mountain Needle Sunrose'


The weather is really hot, the sun burns and scorches, plants turn yellow and brown.







Here a 'Mountain Needle Sunrose' (Fumana ericifolia, no English name known) begins to take autumn colours. This very small bush grows at ground level in sunny meadows and other open areas on limestone soil. In spite of the mountain in its name it prefers lowland or hills.





Now there are many rust-coloured fruits, with here and there still a flower.

To see the flowers you should start early, the flowering of this tiny Rochrose is ephemeral and after only a few hours the petals fall.







There exist other Needle Sunroses, but with this one the flowers have long pedicles that bow down after flowering.