This week’s plant of the week, can be found on the verge above Watergates Common, but go looking for it in the morning. It’s other common names “Jack-go-to-bed-at noon” or “Noon-nap” are a clue why. It has the strange habit of closing the bright yellow flower heads and disappearing into the surrounding greenery after mid-day. I have been unable to find why it does this.
At a quick glance the flower can look like a dandelion, but the long green bracts are distinctive, and enclose the flower completely when it “goes back to bed”. Photos 1 and 2 were taken in the morning, photo 3 as it was closing and photo 4 mid afternoon. Photo 5 shows the grass like leaves, quite unlike other dandelion look a-likes. The seed heads are exquisite (photo 6 is from last year in the field behind the school), the wispy seeds inspiring the Goat’s beard name.
Pratensis means meadow, but with the loss of our wildflower meadows it relies on neglected areas and our verges to persist. The whole plant is edible Food use info but best left to help our pollinators. I do hope it manages to set seed before verge mowing