Durley Beachbum
Nipplewort
Nipplewort is a native plant, known to have been growing in Britain in the Stone Age.
Its pale yellow flower heads are rather insignificant, particularly as they open for only part of the day, closing in mid afternoon and not at all in bad weather. But as with so many things, a macro shot can change our perception! They are pollinated mainly by bees and flies.
The slender wiry stems are very tough, with none of the milky sap found in many other plants in the daisy family. It's a very upright plant, and can be anything from 8-36"(20-90cms). It is a VERY common weed in my garden!
The so-called 'doctrine of signatures' is typified by the powers people have attributed to this plant, which takes its common name from the resemblence of the closed buds to nipples, although I can't see it myself!
It was thought therefore that it would cure sore or ulcerated nipples. in the 16th century Prussian apothecaries prescribed it for such conditions, and called it 'papillaris', from the Latin for teat.
So now you know!
Much information from Wild Flowers of Britain, pub. Readers Digest.
It is quite exciting for me to name some of these common plants which we have always called 'That Weed' in the past! As in 'That Weed with the wiry stems', 'That weed with the milky sap', 'That Weed with the leaping seeds' etc!
How anyone can possibly be bored in retirement beats me!
Nipplewort
Nipplewort is a native plant, known to have been growing in Britain in the Stone Age.
Its pale yellow flower heads are rather insignificant, particularly as they open for only part of the day, closing in mid afternoon and not at all in bad weather. But as with so many things, a macro shot can change our perception! They are pollinated mainly by bees and flies.
The slender wiry stems are very tough, with none of the milky sap found in many other plants in the daisy family. It's a very upright plant, and can be anything from 8-36"(20-90cms). It is a VERY common weed in my garden!
The so-called 'doctrine of signatures' is typified by the powers people have attributed to this plant, which takes its common name from the resemblence of the closed buds to nipples, although I can't see it myself!
It was thought therefore that it would cure sore or ulcerated nipples. in the 16th century Prussian apothecaries prescribed it for such conditions, and called it 'papillaris', from the Latin for teat.
So now you know!
Much information from Wild Flowers of Britain, pub. Readers Digest.
It is quite exciting for me to name some of these common plants which we have always called 'That Weed' in the past! As in 'That Weed with the wiry stems', 'That weed with the milky sap', 'That Weed with the leaping seeds' etc!
How anyone can possibly be bored in retirement beats me!