Rhinanthus minor Yellow-rattle

An annual hemi-parasitic herb which grows in mesotrophic grasslands such as fixed dunes, hay meadows and roadside verges. It is almost hairless, produces spikes of attractive, two-lipped, yellow flowers in summer and is distinctive enough to be familiar to most people. The fruits become inflated at maturity and the loose seeds contained within will make a rattling sound if a detached shoot is shaken; hence its common name. Its presence usually indicates nutrient-poor conditions and it is often found in biodiverse graslands. It is frequently sown into grassland habitats that are dominated by coarse grasses, which it will parasitise and supress, in order to promote better diversity. It is a very common species found throughout Britain but it has a mostly lowland distribution in West Glamorgan. The flowers are visited by bees which in our area have included Shrill Carder Bee (Bombus sylvarum).

Native