Seasonal Wild Flowers

Yellow-wort

Blackstonia perfoliata

Gentianaceae

June to October

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the North,

the Midlands, Norfolk and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map Yellow-wort

Yellow-wort grows on open, dry, shallow, stony limestone soils,

calcareous turf, stabilised sand dunes and by paths, roads,

railways and quarries.

It is a native, annual or biennial, greyish, upright herb, growing

up to 50cm.

Flowers are 1 to 1.5cm with 6 to 9 yellow petals.

There are 6 to 8 linear stamens, a large, yellow, bilobed stigma

and a yellow, oval ovary.

The calyx has linear lobes and appears claw-like.

Flowers close when the sun is behind cloud.

Leaves are greyish, 1 to 2 cm long and joined so that paired

leaves look single with the stem growing out through the middle.

Yellow-wort, Cogdon Nature Reserve, Dorset

Yellow-wort - bilobed stigmas and linear stamens

Flower buds, linear lobed calyx

Greyish leaves and stem

Stem through greyish, joined leaves