Rhinanthus minor
Tracheophyta
›Magnoliopsida›Scrophulariaceae›Rhinanthus›Rhinanthus minor
Ecology
An annual root-hemiparasite of nutrient-poor grasslands, including permanent pastures, hay meadows, the drier parts of fens, flushes in lowland and upland grasslands, and on montane ledges; also on roadsides and waste ground. 0-1065 m (Ben Lawers, Mid Perth).
Status
Native
Trends
R. minor declined throughout the 20th century in semi-natural grasslands. It is now included in many wild-flower seed mixtures. It is very variable and six intergrading and apparently inter-fertile subspecies have been recognised in our area. However, whilst they show broad geographic and ecological distinctions, some local races cannot be clearly assigned to any of them.
World Distribution
European Boreo-temperate element; widely naturalised outside its native range.
© K.J. Walker, BSBI
© K.J. Walker, BSBI
Broad Habitats
Neutral grassland (includes coarse Arrhenatherum grassland)
Light (Ellenberg): 7
Moisture (Ellenberg): 5
Reaction (Ellenberg): 6
Nitrogen (Ellenberg): 4
Salt Tolerance (Ellenberg): 0
January Mean Temperature (Celsius): 3.5
July Mean Temperature (Celsius): 14.4
Annual Precipitation (mm): 1115
Height (cm): 50
Perennation - primary
Annual
Life Form - primary
Therophyte (annual land plant)
Woodiness
Herbaceous
Clonality - primary
Little or no vegetative spread
Count of 10km squares in Great Britain: 2629
Count of 10km squares in Ireland: 850
Count of 10km squares in the Channel Isles: 6
Atlas Change Index: -0.49
Weighted Changed Factor: -28
Weighted Change Factor Confidence (90%)
16
JNCC Designations
NBNSYS0000004135