Seasonal Wild Flowers

Yellow-rattle

Rhinanthus minor

Hay-rattle

Orobanchaceae

May to September

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Yellow-rattle

It grows in nutrient-poor grasslands, such as hay

meadows, waste ground and by roads.

Yellow-rattle is a native, annual, variable,

root-hemiparasite, growing up to 50cm.

Flowers are in spikes, yellow, up to 15mm across,

with 2 deep blue teeth on the upper lip and the

lower lip turns down.

Sepals are joined and inflated, and may be green,

brown or reddish.

Leaves are opposite, unstalked and softly toothed.

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Yellow-rattle, Powerstock Common, Dorset

Flower spike

Flowerhead

Side view - blue teeth

Front view - blue teeth

Darker sepals

Leaves