Purple flower ID please!

[agrumpycow]

This was growing on a towpath in Wilshire. Total plant height about 2ft. I've tried looking it up but can't find it (it's probably staring me in the face, though!).
Is that really two different type flowers I can see or is it one big flower?

Ta

[Hornbeam]

Looks like Russian Comfrey

[Adam Cheeseman]

Although the colour suggests Russian Comfrey, the bent-back teeth on the flowers and the location by water might also suggest Common Comfrey.

Cheers,

Adam

[Gill Catton]

very possibly a hybrid I suppose

[thunder]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

This was growing on a towpath in Wilshire. Total plant height about 2ft. I've tried looking it up but can't find it (it's probably staring me in the face, though!).
Is that really two different type flowers I can see or is it one big flower?

Ta

The purple petals have fallen off some of the flowers, leaving the style sticking out from the sepals.

henrya

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by thunder

The purple petals have fallen off some of the flowers, leaving the style sticking out from the sepals.

henrya

Thanks Henrya, my other half pointed out that's probably what it is shortly after posting it, so obvious really !!

[thunder]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Thanks Henrya, my other half pointed out that's probably what it is shortly after posting it, so obvious really !!

This is one of the flowers that is supposed to be pollinated by long tongued insects, but you often find small holes bored in the base of the petals, where some sneaky thing has bypassed the pollen and stolen the nectar. It probably happens with a lot of other flowers, but seems particularly noticeable on Comfrey.

henrya

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by thunder

This is one of the flowers that is supposed to be pollinated by long tongued insects, but you often find small holes bored in the base of the petals, where some sneaky thing has bypassed the pollen and stolen the nectar. It probably happens with a lot of other flowers, but seems particularly noticeable on Comfrey.

henrya

yes I saw bumble bees doing it cheeky wee things!!