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Red Bartsia

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Red bartsia

As its name suggests, Red bartsia does have a red tinge to its stem, leaves and small flowers. Look for it on roadside verges, railway cuttings and waste ground in summer.

Scientific name

Odontites verna

When to see

June to September

Species information

Statistics

Height: up to 40cm
Common.

About

Red bartsia is a common plant of roadside verges, railway cuttings, waste ground and other disturbed ground. These areas often have low-fertility soils, so Red Bartsia is actually partly parasitic, gaining extra nutrients from the roots of its nearby host grasses. As its name suggests, the whole plant is tinged with red; its leafy flower spikes appear from June to September.

How to identify

Red bartsia is a straggly, downy plant with narrow, toothed leaves that sit opposite each other along the stems. Pinky-purple flowers appear on the stems in clusters, nestling in the leaf axils (where they join the stem).

Distribution

Widespread.

Did you know?

As well as being popular with carder bees and wasps, one particular solitary bee feeds solely on Red bartsia.