Rainton Meadows - flower IDs, comment and confirmation

[rscott74]

I visited Rainton Meadows (RM) this morning to see if anything had changed, as it does seem to at this time of the year and took a different route using a little used footpath from the A690 at East Rainton to the track leading to RM. Just a few meters in from the main road I noticed Scorpion Weed (SW)growing in abundance (1). I still wonder why this plant is so common around these particular fields.
I noticed the plant next to the SW (2) and I wonder if anyone can tell me what it is. I also noticed a similar plant but with white flowers (3) - is it the same? I hope they are not red and white dead nettle!
In RM I found (4) and would guess it was Musk Mallow. Am I correct?
Behind the visitors center a limestone garden has been created which has been left to nature and is always worth a visit. I found (5) and (6) in there can anyone assist with ID. Unfortunately a shower started which prevented me from getting better shots of (6).


(1)


(2)


(3)


(4)


(5)


(6)

[JennyS]

Hi rscott,
2 and 3 are Common Hemp-nettle, Galeopsis tetrahit
4. Looks more like the Praire Mallow, Sidalcea malvaeflora origin that I got an ID for from here last year - leaves seem too dissected for Musk Mallow, but I could well be wrong!
5. Rockrose, Helianthemum nummularium
6. Toadflax, probably Pale Toadflax, Linaria repens

[ceterach]

Hi

4 Looks good for Musk Mallow to me.

6 Despite it's colour, with the flowers in such a pronounced spike this is Purple Toadflax, Linaria pupurea not Pale Toadflax.

I agree with Jenny on the rest

All the best

[rscott74]

Thanks Jenny. This is a shot of the stem of the Mallow. Does it help?

[rscott74]

Thanks John, our posts crossed. I did find Purple Toadflax close by last year so you may be right even if the colour is distinctly different. Is a hybrid a possibility? The garden was created presumably from 'imported' seed.

[ceterach]

Originally Posted by rscott74

Thanks John, our posts crossed. I did find Purple Toadflax close by last year so you may be right even if the colour is distinctly different. Is a hybrid a possibility? The garden was created presumably from 'imported' seed.

No I think it is just a colour variant. Pale Toadflax is an altogether more delicate plant and flower.

[aeshna5]

1 is Phacelia tanacetifolia
6 is a form of Purple Toadflax, Linaria purpurea. There is a pink form in horticultue called "Cannon Went"

[rscott74]

re - Phacelia tanacetifolia. Do any forum members come across this? It's a bee attractor and can be used as for green manure and as a biological crop protector. I've never been able to figure out why it occurs in the few fields around Rainton Meadows. I've never noticed it elsewhere and I've walked around a fair amount of fields in the locality.

[ceterach]

One of those strange coincidences, on my local Downs tonight I found a clump of Pale Toadflax most definitely not very delicate!! Flowering almost over!


All the best

[rscott74]

I was back at Rainton Meadows today a got a few pics of the 2 Toadflax - one pink, one blue. Do the images confirm they are both Purple Toadflax? They look a bit structurally different.

[rscott74]

Sorry - this other image

[ceterach]

Hi

Yes I am sure they are the same species, I think the only difference is that the pink one is slightly further advanced flloweringwise.

All the best

[rscott74]

Thanks ceterach. The pink flowered plant is in the structued garden - probably a better growing environment - whereas the blue plant, whilst not far away, probably arrived naturally.