Flowering Months:
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Family:
Orobanchaceae (Broomrape)
Also in this family:
Alpine Bartsia, Arctic Eyebright, Bedstraw Broomrape, Campbell's Eyebright, Chalk Eyebright, Cold Eyebright, Common Broomrape, Common Cow-wheat, Common Eyebright, Common Slender Eyebright, Common Toothwort, Confused Eyebright, Crested Cow-wheat, Cumbrian Eyebright, Davey Vigurs Eyebright, English Sticky Eyebright, Eyebright, Field Cow-wheat, Foula Eyebright, Greater Broomrape, Heslop Harrison's Eyebright, Irish Eyebright, Ivy Broomrape, Knapweed Broomrape, Lousewort, Maritime Eyebright, Marsh Lousewort, Marshall's Eyebright, Ostenfeld's Eyebright, Oxtongue Broomrape, Purple Toothwort, Red Bartsia, Round-leaved Eyebright, Scottish Eyebright, Small Cow-wheat, Thistle Broomrape, Thyme Broomrape, Welsh Eyebright, Yarrow Broomrape, Yellow Bartsia, Yellowrattle
Maximum Size:
60 centimetres tall
Habitats:
Fields, grassland, heathland, meadows, roadsides, scrub.
Greater Yellow-rattle displays bright yellow, tubular flowers with a hooded upper lip and a notched lower lip, typically measuring 15–20 mm in length. These flowers are arranged in a dense, upright spike, with each bloom emerging from a green, toothed calyx. Flowering from May to July, it attracts a variety of pollinators, particularly bumblebees. Compared to the more common Rhinanthus minor, the flowers are larger and often more deeply yellow.
Fruit:
The plant produces dry, bladder-like seed capsules that rattle when mature—hence the name "yellow-rattle." These inflated pods contain several dark, flattened seeds that are dispersed by wind and vibration. The distinctive rattling sound is most noticeable from July onwards and plays a role in the plant’s seed dispersal.
Leaves:
Leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. They have coarse, forward-pointing teeth and are stalkless or nearly so. The foliage is rough to the touch and a dull green, helping distinguish it from similar grassland species. Bracts beneath the flowers are also toothed and more prominent in R. angustifolius than in R. minor.
Fragrance:
This plant is scentless. Neither its flowers nor leaves emit a noticeable fragrance, relying instead on visual appeal and its unique rattling seed pods to draw attention. Pollinators are attracted by the colour and shape of the flowers rather than any floral scent.
Other Names:
Narrow-leaved Rattle, Narrow-leaved Yellowrattle.
Frequency (UK):
Rarely seen
Summary
Rhinanthus angustifolius, also known as yellow rattle, is a perennial herb that belongs to the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to Europe and Asia, and typically grows in grasslands, meadows, and other open habitats. The plant has small, yellow, tubular flowers and narrow leaves. It is considered a weed in many parts of Europe and Asia, but is also used as a medicinal herb in traditional medicine.
Yellow rattle is also a hemi-parasitic plant species, which means it takes some of its nutrients from other plants by attaching its roots to their roots. This characteristic makes it a useful plant in the wild and in agro-ecological systems as it helps in reducing the growth of other plants and thus allows other plants to grow.
Blog
Greater Yellowrattle, also known as Rhinanthus angustifolius, is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Orobanchaceae. It is a perennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia and is commonly found in meadows, grasslands, and along the edges of fields.
The plant gets its common name from the rattling sound that is produced when the seeds inside the fruit are shaken. This sound is caused by the seeds having a small, hard appendage called an aril which makes the seeds rattle inside the fruit.
Greater Yellowrattle has a yellow, hooded flower that blooms in the summer months. The plant can grow up to 60 cm tall and has narrow, linear leaves. The flowers are arranged in a loose, spike-like inflorescence and are visited by a wide range of insects, including bees, butterflies, and moths.
One of the most interesting things about Greater Yellowrattle is that it is a hemiparasitic plant. This means that it is partially dependent on other plants for its survival. The roots of the plant attach themselves to the roots of nearby grasses and other plants, and through this connection, the plant is able to extract nutrients from its host.
This characteristic makes Greater Yellowrattle an ideal plant for use in meadow restoration projects. When planted in combination with grasses, it can help to increase the diversity and productivity of the meadow. It also helps to control the growth of more dominant grass species and in that way, creating a more balanced ecosystem.
In conclusion, Greater Yellowrattle, Rhinanthus angustifolius, is a unique and interesting plant that is not only beautiful but also plays an important role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. It is an excellent plant for use in meadow restoration projects and can help to increase the diversity and productivity of the meadow.
Wild Flower Web