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Rhinanthus minor - L.

Common Name Yellow Rattle, Little yellow rattle, Arctic rattlebox
Family Scrophulariaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards This plant might be poisonous to livestock[200].
Habitats Grassland[17]. There are various sub-species that grow on basic or calcareous soils[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from Iceland south and east to Spain, W. Siberia and the Caucasus.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle, Little yellow rattle,  Arctic rattlebox


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhinanthus_minor_Sturm56.jpg
Rhinanthus minor Yellow Rattle, Little yellow rattle,  Arctic rattlebox
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Rasbak

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Rhinanthus minor is a ANNUAL growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in flower from May to August, and the seeds ripen from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Meadow;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Ophthalmic

The plant is ophthalmic[100, 172].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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Other Uses

Dye

A bright yellow dye is obtained from the leaves[100].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A semi-parasitic plant of grass, it can be grown in a meadow[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest either sowing the seed in situ in a lawn or meadow or, if seed is in short supply, sowing it in a pot of turf in a cold frame. It is probably best to sow as soon as the seed is ripe but a spring sowing can also be tried.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (south)) NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon (south), Québec (north), Ontario (north), Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), Greenland (south), United States (Alaska, Maine, Colorado, Montana (west), Oregon (northwest), Washington (west), Wyoming) EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Portugal

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Dan Trotter   Thu Nov 17 2005

Marshall Agroecology Limited Methods to diversify field margin plant communities. Sponsor: DEFRA Countryside Management Division.

Kathy Kalafat   Wed Sep 26 2007

Yellow Rattle is useful when establishing wild flower meadows. If planting wild flower plugs into existing grass, success is improved by reducing immediate competition while the wild flower establishes itself. This can be achieved by raking Yellow Rattle seed (Rhinanthus minor) into the grass in spring or autumn. This is a semi-parasite on grass and once established it will reduce the vigour of the original grass by up to 50%. All ancient meadows have this plant.

Wild Flower Shop Native British Wild Flower seeds, bulbs, plugs, plants & meadow mixes.

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Subject : Rhinanthus minor  
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