Arable Weeds
A weed is just a wild flower growing in the wrong place. Usually weeds are colonisers of bare or disturbed ground, and botanists call them ruderals. Many arable weeds such as Pheasant's Eye and Shepherd's Needle have become very rare as they are not able to cope with herbicides and modern farming practices, whereas others like Poppies seem more resilient. This array of arable weeds was growing in some disturbed ground not far from my home in the Pennines. The pink flower to the left is Redshank (Persicaria maculosa) with Bifid Hemp-nettle on the far right (Galeopsis bifida). But the magnificent flower in the centre with yellow and purple flowers is the scarce and declining Large- flowered Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis speciosa). And there are a couple of Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Large White butterfly for good measure.
Arable Weeds
A weed is just a wild flower growing in the wrong place. Usually weeds are colonisers of bare or disturbed ground, and botanists call them ruderals. Many arable weeds such as Pheasant's Eye and Shepherd's Needle have become very rare as they are not able to cope with herbicides and modern farming practices, whereas others like Poppies seem more resilient. This array of arable weeds was growing in some disturbed ground not far from my home in the Pennines. The pink flower to the left is Redshank (Persicaria maculosa) with Bifid Hemp-nettle on the far right (Galeopsis bifida). But the magnificent flower in the centre with yellow and purple flowers is the scarce and declining Large- flowered Hemp-nettle (Galeopsis speciosa). And there are a couple of Buff-tailed Bumblebees and a Large White butterfly for good measure.