Mullered..

Day #370

I’m fascinated by yellow rattle.

As a hemi-parasite it can photosynthesise. But it is happiest when it can connect its xylem to the xylem of a host plant and draw in stolen minerals and nutrients. Host plants close their stomata in the hours of darkness - but rattle doesn’t. It continues to draw throughout the night, thus further weakening the host plant.

Rattle is an annual plant relying on its seed to provide

following generations.

We collected the seed of yellow rattle many years ago and have steadily spread it around our little meadows.

Each June or July we now collect seed and spread it to a part of the meadow that doesn’t yet host it.

The photograph is of ann especially dry, sandy and south facing part of our meadow that has been utterly mullered by rattle.

Lots of ground invertebrates are enjoying the conditions.

Now the vigorous grasses are controlled, I’ll add seedling plants of birds-foot trefoil, field scabious and harebell that I’ve been bringing on in the greenhouse.