Some flowers are happy to bloom all season, but many have their own particular time. Just now, the orchids are finished and Devil's-bit Scabious (
Succisa pratensis) is making a sea of blue amongst the grasses.
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Devil's-bit Scabious
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I looked up how it got its name, and according to
Wikipedia, scabious plants were used to treat scabies and other itchy complaints, and the devil bit off the roots in anger.
Two other blue flowers are out at the moment. they are not as numerous but make up for this with their delicate beauty. The Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) is a bell-shaped nodding flower which grows in many places locally.
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Harebell
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| Harebell |
The other beauty is Field Gentian (
Gentianella campestris) which is much fussier. There are lots of them this year, near the Spey. They are scarce further South, in England.
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| Field Gentian amongst Eyebright |
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| Field Gentian showing sepals |
To check that it is Field Gentian, you look at the sepals (the green "leaves" at the base of and surrounding the flower.It has two big overlapping sepals on the outside and two smaller ones inside them. You can see the arrangement on the topmost flower in the photo.
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