A buzzing insect passed my ear last week, it sounded like a bee but I don't know for sure. Today I am certain I saw my first bumblebee of the year in Endon. I'm not 100% sure of what speceis it was but while it briefly landed on some Pulminaria it looked like Bombus hypnorum the Tree Bumblebee. Later on, on a walk to Deep Hayes Country park I stopped to watch two honey bee hives to see if the worker bees were going out foraging - they were. Once in the park I spotted a cluster of plants that I had not noticed before. They turned out to be Giant Butterbur Petasites japinica, a non-native perennial that is used as a vegtetable in Japan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petasites_japonicus. Giant Butterbur is, not surprisingly related to Butterbur, which is a native species, and which also grows in our area. Below photos of Giant Butterbur are photos and info. on that species from the "Wildflowers in Endon" pages of this blog Both species are in the daisy (Asteraceae) family.
Giant Butterbur in Deep Hayes Country Park 17.03.15
Butterbur Petasites hybridus, a native, perennial species, grows on the disused railway. It forms a large stand on the section between Station Road and the "white bridge" on the Caldon Canal. From here it has spread into a neighbouring field and on to the canal towpath. Perhaps surprisingly it does not grow on the other side (between Station Road and Park Lane) of the level crossing. However this was, until recently, more heavily shaded by trees and is probably drier than the damp soils of the Stockton Brook side of the level crossing. In spring the Butterbur provides a lovely sight, and is a good early source of nectar for insects. The photo of Butterbur along the disused railway was taken in April 2011.
Butterbur seed head.
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