help with 3 if poss please.

[the naturelover]

Hi can anyone help me with these 3 please.

found just one single example of this. growing beneath a gorse bush. pretty hairy all over. but, what is it?

Again just one singleton. growing in leaf litter and short rough grass beneath a very large sweet chestnut tree. from a distance i thought it was a pansy but obviously not. Some sort of legume?? if you look closely on the left side there is possibly a tendrill growing out.

Now this is a real puzzle to me. growing next to a large patch of rosebay willowherb and from a distance looks the same but, the flowers and stem are totally different. again what is it please.
regards tn.

[aeshna5]

1 Corncockle, Agrostemma githago
2 some sort of pea
3 Great Willowherb, Epilobium hirsutum

[Dorts]

2. looks like one of the Peas used in agriculture which are often quite attractve.
Dorts.

[the naturelover]

As always my thanks dorts.
I did think the pea was an escapee but did not want to seem too stupid. It was miles from anywhere commercial so I did have doubts. however I appreciate birds etc can carry seed for miles.
regards tn.

[alindsay]

Wern't we saying on a post some weeks ago, that Corncockle was virtually extinct therefore, excellent find.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by alindsay

Wern't we saying on a post some weeks ago, that Corncockle was virtually extinct therefore, excellent find.

it's widely sown as a seed mix, along with corn marigold and cornflowers

[the naturelover]

Thanks alindsay.
I did not realise that.
I am now so happy that I follow my own personal guidelines of not disturbing any living thing especially for a picture.
It makes the pain of crawling into a prickly gorse bush to get these pics even more worthwile.
I only hope many other people also spot it before it goes over but, somehow i doubt they will even notice it.
regards tn.

[alindsay]

Thanks Leifus,

Does this mean it's an escapee?

I love it anyway for the strong markings and the folklore that goes with it.

[leifus]

Originally Posted by the naturelover

It makes the pain of crawling into a prickly gorse bush to get these pics even more worthwile.
.

snap!

[leifus]

Originally Posted by alindsay

Thanks Leifus,

Does this mean it's an escapee?

I love it anyway for the strong markings and the folklore that goes with it.

corncockle is extinct in the wild in the UK, unfortunately! So yes, this will be an escapee. It was originally an Archaeophyte, introduced with agriculture in the Iron Age.

Interesting Fact: in the 17th century on herefordshire farms, an easter tradition was to weed corncockles from the spring grain. She who pulled the first or most of the weed got the biggest slice of cake at the field feast and he who pulled the first or most of the weed (as it was a weed back then..!) could expect a kiss from the prettiest girl present.

Of course agricultural weed killers put an end to all this....

oh well