Cumbria Naturally
  • Home
  • Blog
  • My Books
    • Cumbrian Contrasts
    • A Lakeland Experience >
      • Introduction
      • Derwent
      • Langdale
      • Ullswater
      • Kentdale
    • About Scout Scar
    • Atlantic Odyssey
  • Other Writing
    • What Larks!
    • Further - Explore Shetland
    • Autumn Migration
    • Rydal and Nab Scar
    • Perspectives
    • The River Kent
    • Wings
  • Gallery
  • Contact

Autumn gentian, Felwort, Gentianella Amarella

30/8/2021

0 Comments

 
PictureAutumn gentian with eyebright
‘Have you found a four-leaved clover?' he called.
‘ We have something rare. Come and see,  if you’d like to.’
On a south-facing slope In the short turf at our feet the  flowers of Autumn gentian amongst dark  linear leaves.  Not spectacular like Alpine gentian.  but small and  intricate and – being hard to find- the more precious.  Felwort, a plant of the fells. Flowers seek pollinators so when light and temperature fall low, like today,  their strategy is to close up petals to safeguard  nectar and pollen until it's brighter and insects are out foraging.   ‘Dull purple, blue, pink or whitish’ writes botanist Marjorie Blamey in her ‘Flora of Britain and Northern Europe.’ 


I look out for Felwort  from early August until the end of September.  This year, they’re rather late to flower being mostly in bud so the two of us search until we've found some dozen, including one with white flowers and a hint of pink.  Each of the three names suggests a different aspect of the plant.  Gentianella Amarella, from the Latin amarus, bitter. ' A bitter-tasting herb,' writes Marjorie Blamey. 
A couple calls to ask what we have found. We tell them and turn back to search the short turf to relocate the flowers and show them.   
We move on, still searching, and  stop  to consider the largest of the plants, a couple of inches tall, branched and full of flower buds.  A dog appears and trots  toward it.  Its young owner  sees what is happening and he immediately puts it on a lead, then comes to look at Autumn gentian.  Today, we take pleasure in introducing a field of folk to Autumn gentian.  It’s like an impromptu field-trip.  Seeing  me kneeling in reverence on the grass taking photographs, they’re curious and they come flocking.  We value curiosity, we like to learn and share, so we have fun.  
​Since learning of house building projects in the area I have been asking endlessly for information boards to highlight why Scout Scar is so special.  With no success, so far. I am not done.   I’ve long  realised that one  way to raise awareness is out in the field,  sharing discoveries in the moment with those who show curiosity and eagerness to know. But it's haphazard and random.  We need the permanence of information boards.
The images displayed include some dozen plants.  They are fresh and in the early stages of flowering so if you want to see Autumn gentian, Felwort, keep looking.  They should show for some weeks to come.  They're here on Scout Scar and up on the Whitbarrow ridge too.
To Sue R.  If you need further directions on where to find them, contact me. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Author

    Jan Wiltshire is a nature writer living in Cumbria. She also explores islands and coast and the wildlife experience. (See Home and My Books)

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    November 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    April 2010
    January 2010
    November 2009
    January 2009
    January 2004

    Categories

    All
    A Local Patch
    Birdlife
    Butterflies And Moths
    Flowers
    Locations
    Views
    Walks
    Weather
    WIldlife

    RSS Feed

Website
Home
Blog
Gallery
Contact



​Cookie Policy
My Books
  • Intro - My books
  • ​Cumbrian Contrasts
  • A Lakeland Experience
  • About Scout Scar
  • Atlantic Odyssey
    ​
Other Writing
  • Intro - Other Writing
  • What Larks!
  • Further - Explore Shetland
  • Autumn Migration
  • Rydal and Nab Scar
  • Perspectives
  • The River Kent
  • Wings
Jan Wiltshire - Cumbria Naturally
© Jan Wiltshire 2022 All rights reserved
Website by Treble3