Flora on the Old Railway Cutting

20th June 2025 - a few less common plants showed themselves along the disused Old Railway Cutting recently.  A Pyramidal Orchid was found flowering along the top of the bank by the path - a species not seen along there in recent years. Also a Knapweed Broomrape, this plant being unusual in that it doesn't produce leaves or have chlorophyll, thus its pallid completion - instead it gets its energy by parasitising the roots of other specific plants, in this case knapweed. Finally, the large airy seed head of Goat's Beard, looking like a giant dandelion clock.

Pyramidal Orchid

Knapweed Broomrape

Goat's Beard seed head,

and a fertilised flower head about open into a second seed head