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| Species of the Month - June 2013 Globe Flower Trollius europaeus The closed rounded flowers of this species are unique and easily recognisable. They can only be pollinated by a particular kind of fly, which lays eggs inside the flower from which larvae emerge to feed on the maturing seeds which resulted from the parent fly's pollinating activity.
Globe Flower requires a somewhat alkaline soil that is free from
grazing, and is most likey to be found in gorges or gullies, damp
meadows, riversides, woodland and on rock ledges. In Britain it is
commonest in north and west Scotland despite the acid conditions that
predominate there. It is always worth recording as it's an
indicator of alkaline habitat where other interesting plants may be
found.
On the left, Globe
Flower growing in lush damp grassland, and on the right, on a mountain
rock ledge.
Globe Flowers in the
River Nant gorge
It flowers in May and June but can be recognised by the distinctive leaves at any time of year. The large leaf in the top right is a basal leaf on a long stalk. To the left, a more finely divided, and unstalked, stem leaf can be seen.
Please send in your Globe Flower sightings using the form below,
or email sightings@lnhg.org.uk
with the details if you prefer. If you are
not sure of the identity of your plant, please send a photo to sightings@lnhg.org.uk,
or put one on the
LORN forum and let me know it is there. By filling in this form you agree that the information contained in this form may be collated and disseminated manually or electronically for environmental decision-making, education, research and other public benefit uses in accordance with the LNHG data access policy. Your email address will not form part of the record and will not be passed on to anyone.
Carl Farmer
4 Jun: Chris Irvine found at least 6 plants, 2 in flower, near the top of Meall Mor, Glencoe. 7 Jun: I found two flowering near Connel. 22 Jun: Denise Overnell showed me a patch of them at Kilmore.
Note you can still send in records for past species of the month. Here is the list of species we've had so far:
May 2013 - Early Purple Orchid
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