Glorious instability - a meadow by day
29th June 2009, MondayMeadows vary down the years, dependent on conditions that influence survival of the plants in the sward over the preceeding year - variables influencing seed set, survival of seedlings and mature plants all introduce an element of unpredictability about these habitats. Last year this grassland in Northiam was dominated by red clover Trifolium pratense. This year it features abundant smooth hawk’s-beard Crepis capillaris which has produced an over-whelming dominance of yellow, rather than pink flowers. These are popular with a number of species of solitary bee and abundant small beetles at the moment.
This is a common annual/perennial plant found on a variety of habitats including grasslands, waste land and heaths. The leaves are shiny and hairless, and pinnatifid - that is they are cut into a series of narrow lobes, but which do not extend right down to the central midrib. The base of the leaves clasp the plant stems, and leaves at the top of the flower stem are arrow shaped.
Common it may be, but it is putting on a colourful show at the moment, at least during the morning, as like it’s rarer relative, the stinking hawk’s-beard Crepis foetida, the flowers close up in the afternoon.