Bristly Oxtongue (Helminthotheca echioides) is a common wayside plant in Huntingdonshire, less so in Mid-West Yorkshire. The common plant of disturbed and semi-natural habitats is var. echioides with its dull, floppy, pale-green leaves. However, occasionally you come across a plant that looks a bit different and when it occurs as a large colony, such as at Warren Hill, Kimbolton (VC31) there can be no doubt that it is different. This is var. pratensis which is distinguished by its narrower, shiny coriaceous leaves and more obvious prickles. The stem is often red-tinged. It seems to be a short-lived casual and rarely persists for long at locations where it is out-numbered by var. echioides. In such circumstances, the two varieties seem to interbreed and produce variable offspring showing traits from both parents.
I am the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) Vice-County Recorder for Huntingdonshire (VC31) and Mid-West Yorkshire (VC64). I've set-up this botany blog to more readily share news on recent wildflower discoveries made by myself and others, to encourage wider recording, and as a way to challenge myself to take more photographs of the plants I find. See the BSBI website for more information on the work of the society and the diverse range of botany projects currently in progress.
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