Rhinanthus minor

A small annual plant that has an upright growth habit. It has slender, nettle-like leaves with attractive toothy edges. The little yellow flowers are carried at the stem top. They are tubular with curved heads and a turtle-like mouth. The flowers may be a feature from June till September. The flowers are followed by seedpods which rattle when shaken. It is widespread in grassy places and is widely variable in appearance across its territory. The plant has parasitic attributes and takes nutrients from the roots of grasses, thus lessening their vitality. It is thus useful if one wishes to establish a meadow garden. By restricting the vitality of grasses it provides the opportunity for other plants to thrive, thus increasing the diversity of plants in the meadow. It is important to delay cutting the grass until the plant has set seed to ensure its generation in future years.