Wild Flowers Of Strathclyde Park
  
 

Yellow Rattle
Rhinanthus minor
of the Figwort family
an annual
20 - 50 cm high
blooms May - September
likes grassy places, meadows, pastures
can be seen in the grassland between the Pond and Roman Bath-house

   
"Hay shackle" and "Rattle box" are common names for this attractive plant. The scientific name Rhinanthus means nose flower and refers to the shape of the flower which is similar to a witch's nose. The plant is actually a bit of a parasite since its roots latch onto those of other plants and robs them of minerals and water.