Common name:
Yellow rattle
Family:
Scientific name:
Rhinanthus minor
Main flower color:
Range:
All of the UK
Height:
Up to 50 cm
Habitat:
Grassland, dunes; a semi-parasitic species
Flowers:
The yellow corolla is up to 20 mm long, straight underneath, gently curved above, opening to two lips; the upper lip is arched towards the tip, and has two tiny purple teeth at the apex (wider than they are long), while the lower is a little shorter, divided into three equal-sized lobes. The green calyx is strongly flattened, and inflated towards the base; during the fruiting stage it expands further, containing dry seeds which rattle if the plant is blown by the wind
Leaves:
Hairless, opposite, stalkless, narrowly lanceolate, lined by regular, rounded teeth
Season:
May to September
Rarity:
★★★★★
