Botany Meeting 2nd August 2022

Despite the gloomy forecast, 12 members met and set off optimistically, walking upstream from Grassington bridge.  The dominant colours of the flowers were blue and pink.

First among the blues were Harebells, Campanula rotundifolia, in a cluster under the bridge; nearby were some Meadow Cranesbill, Geranium pratense.  Further along were large numbers of Scabious, in varying shades of blue,  Field Scabious, Knautia arvensis, and Small Scabious, Scabiosa columbaria.

Our first pink flowers were Rosebay Willowherb, Chamerion angustifolium, then came Knapweed, Centaurea nigra .  Later we saw Greater Knapweed, Centaurea scabiosa. Sadly among the pink flowers, at the water’s edge was the invasive Himalayan Balsam, Impatiens glanulifera.

In addition to these were groups of bight golden Ragwort, Jacobaeaab vulgaris, white Yarrow, Achillea millefolia, and Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria.  A colourful display of late summer flowers.

There were lots of discussions about similar species such as Timothy, Phleum pratense, and Smaller Catstail, Phleum bertolonii.  Sand Leek, Allium scorooprasum, and Field Garlic, Allium oleracium, and, of course, Dandelion lookalikes.

Other wildlife was spotted – families of Sand Martins up and down the river and a Dipper.  Particularly on the Knapweed, several species of bee, a few Meadow Brown and a Gatekeeper butterfly and a Banded Demoiselle dragonfly was seen.

So a most enjoyable local outing, lots of interest, good company and better weather than we’d dared hope for.

Report: Win Clements.   Photos : Ian Hughes and Stella Hughes (SH)