Yellow-rattle ( Rhinanthus minor )

Another Saturday so another day prepping the Lodge.  Finally the "Wild flower meadow " is starting to produce better numbers of flowers.  The blip is Yellow -rattle also known among conservationists as "the meadow maker."  This is because the plant is parasitic on grasses.  Technically I believe it is a hemi-parasite i.e. it attacks the xylem whereas a parasitic plant would attack both xylem and phloem.

We planted a few plug plants in the early stages of growing the meadow, they are annuals so over the years must have seeded well as we have a number of spreading patches.  They are called rattle because as the seeds form and the calyx dries if shaken  you can hear the seeds rattling inside.