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| Small Toadflax - Chaenorhinum minus 25 Sept - Giggleswick Station |
Today (Sat 21 November) I go back to Giggleswick Station to see if there is anything left in flower. I find 12 species, two of which are blue and both of which I found two months ago: Green Field-speedwell and Small Toadflax
I will also include a third plant found in Settle - I suspect it is still out in one or two back streets: Purple Toadflax - Linarea purpurea
Every time I wander near the gate of the adjacent platform of reomte Giggleswick Railway Station a haunting refined gentleman's voice from the loudspeaker informs me I should be wearing a facemask on the platform. The platform is deserted, as is the carpark and colonised rough area where I am standing.
The far end of the rough area which was covered in machinery and some bags of fertiliser a month ago - is now empty again, the surface bulldozed and forming an open habitat ready for colonisation by more species. Thank you Railtrack or whoever.
1. Green Field-speedwell. Veronica agrestis.
This has the two fruit lobes "Pointing forward" where-as Veronica persica (Common Field-speedwell) (which also has bigger bluer flowers) and has the lobes diverging.
The leaves of V. agrestis are slightly longer and more "Isosceles triangle" shaped than V. persica. - i.e widest very near the base then gradually tapering.
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| Green Field-speedwell - Veronica agrestis on 21 November |
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| Green Field-speedwell - Veronica agrestis on 30 Aug |
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| Green Field-speedwell - Veronica agrestis on 30 Aug |
2. Small Toadflax Chaenorhimum minus
Well the plants are still standing. It did look prettier in September I admit.
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| Small Toadflax - Chaenorhinum minus - 21 November |
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| Small Toadflax - Chaenorhinum minus - 21 November - rather eaten |
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| Small Toadflax - Chaenorhinum minus 25 Sept - Giggleswick Station |
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3. Purple Toadflax - Linarea purpurea
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| Purple toadflax - Linarea purpurea - track behind the manse behind Penyghent View, Church street, Settle - 27 Sept - It was still out last month but I suspect it may be over now. |
Other plants in flower on the rough land at the station on 21 November include:
Red Clover
Dandelion
Poa annua
Arrhenatherum elatius
Holcus mollis
Sow thistle
Pineapple-weed
Thalecress
Sticky Mouse ear
Prickly Sow-thistle
Comfrey sp.
It is a while since I have put up a Settle Lockdown Wildflower post.
I have visited St John's Churchyard at Low Bentham (13 miles) with
and taken permanent plot photographs at Malham Tarn (5 miles) but both are too far away to include as lockdown walks.
My walks to the LimeKiln and to Little Stainforth, and to the wall next to the Swimming Pool, have revealed a white crustose lichen that goes yellow then immediately red with KOH. I am still seeking the correct name for it... then maybe it will feature in a post.
Click here for more Settle Lockdown Wildflower Walks
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