Yellow-rattle - Rhinanthus minor

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Yellow-rattle - Rhinanthus minor
© Dr Chris Gibson/English Nature

This is a semi-parasitic plant with short leafy spikes of bright yellow, lipped flowers with inflated calyxes and hooked upper lips. The stem is spotted with black and carries opposing pairs of narrow, spear-shaped leaves that are coarsely-toothed and light green. The fruits rattle inside the calyx when ripe. Unlike most meadow flowers, this is an annual and is thus dependent on producing enough seed for the next year.

This is a great plant for a wildflower meadow as it will keep grasses in check by feeding off their roots. Grown too profusely, however, it may start to take over, so insert plants gradually and see how the grasses get on before adding too many.

In the wild, this is the foodplant of the larvae of two rare moths.

Animals

Buff-tailed bumble bee, Red-tailed bumble bee, White-tailed bumble bee

Foliage	Green
Flower	Yellow, June to August
Moisture	(Average)
Sunlight	(Full sun)
Origin	Native