Seasonal Wild Flowers

Great Burnet

Sanguisorba officinalis

Rosaceae

June to September

It is found throughout the country but is absent from parts

of East Anglia, the South and the Southeast.

See the BSBI distribution map for Great Burnet

Great Burnet grows in neutral grassland by paths, rivers,

and lakes, and in unfertilised hay meadows.

It is a native, perennial herb growing up to 1.5m.

Flower heads are crimson and up to 2cm long.

Individual flowers have 4 sepals and no petals, 4 stamens

and a single style (not easily seen in these pictures),.

The flower head turns deep purple and becomes corky on

ageing.

Leaves have several pairs of leaflets.

The leaflets are up to 4cm long with regular teeth.

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Next page: Great Mullein

Flower heads, Lune estuary track,

Lancaster

Flower head

Leaves and stems

Leaflets