Burnet

The name 'Burnet' is shared between the Burnet Moths (mentioned last Friday) and a group of plants called, Great Burnet and Salad Burnet.  This morning, we found a stand of Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis).

The leaves are supposed to taste of cucumber and are as such, commonly used throughout the world as a salad ingredient.  It is also cultivated for it's medicinal properties which include the inhibiting of bleeding, and treatment of menstrual problems as well as being used as an external wound application.  The red, globular flower heads stand out above the plant and look good too.

About the same height, but far less colourful, is the second of this morning's plants.  This is a grass known as Meadow Foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis).  I fell in to the trap of thinking it was the very similar Timothy Grass when we saw it growing along the path, but closer inspection has revealed the mix-up.