Biology
provided by Arkive
This perennial herb produces creeping rhizomes, from which it is able to spread by vegetative reproduction (2) (3). It can also reproduce by seeds, and the flowers are pollinated by a range of insects (2). Despite the fact that it is slightly toxic, bog asphodel is often heavily grazed in upland areas (3).
Conservation
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Conservation action has not been targeted at this species.
Description
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Bog asphodel produces bright yellow star-like flowers on leafless stems. On the damp heaths and peatbogs in which it is found, this is often the brightest show of colour around (4). The anthers are bright reddish-orange, and when the plants have finished flowering, the stems take on a deep saffron colour (5). The scientific name ossifragum means 'bone breaker' and refers to the old belief that after grazing on this plant the bones of sheep became brittle. This belief was mistaken, however, as bog asphodel was not the culprit; it was due to the calcium-deficient vegetation found in the habitats in which the plant grows (4). This plant has been used as a cheap substitute for saffron and as a dye. During the seventeenth century it was used as a hair dye by women in Lancashire (5).
Habitat
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As the common name suggests, bog asphodel is found in wet, boggy habitats including wet heaths, moors and raised, valley and blanket bogs (3)(2). It is also found in wet acid habitats on mountains, up to altitudes of 1000m (2), and is unable to tolerate shade (2).
Range
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Found throughout much of the British Isles, but is absent from many parts of eastern England and the Midlands (2). The species has undergone a decline in England, and local losses have continued in Sussex and Surrey (3). Bog asphodel can be found in north and western Europe, extending east to south-eastern Sweden and south to northern Portugal (2).
Status
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Not threatened (3).
Threats
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The range of this species has declined in Britain, largely as a result of the widespread drainage of wet habitats (4).
Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
Foodplant / spot causer
tufted colony of Cladosporium dematiaceous anamorph of Cladosporium magnusianum causes spots on live leaf-tip of Narthecium ossifragum
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
immersed sorus of Entyloma ossifragi parasitises live leaf of Narthecium ossifragum
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Phalacrus substriatus feeds on Narthecium ossifragum
Narthecium ossifragum
provided by wikipedia EN
Narthecium ossifragum, commonly known as bog asphodel,[1] Lancashire asphodel or bastard asphodel,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Nartheciaceae. It is native to Western Europe, found on wet, boggy moorlands up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation. It produces spikes of bright yellow flowers in summer. The bright orange fruits have been used as a colourant to replace saffron by Shetland Islanders.[3] Despite the plant's English name "bog asphodel", it is not particularly closely related to the true asphodels. In addition to other forms of pollination, this plant is adapted to rain-pollination.[4] The Latin specific name ossifragum means "bone-breaker", and refers to a traditional belief that eating the plant caused sheep to develop brittle bones. The probable origin of this story is that sheep eating a calcium-poor diet are likely to develop bone weakness, and N. ossifragum favours acidic low-calcium soils.[3]
Description
Bog asphodel is a tufted, hairless herbaceous perennial with a creeping rhizome. The leaves are up to 6 in (15 cm) long, narrow, flattened and sword-shaped, and often tinged with orange. The inflorescence is a spike with bright yellow, star-like flowers about 0.7 in (18 mm) across, which have short white hairs on the orange stamens. The fruits are deep orange.[5][6]
Biology
The plant can cause photosensitisation, a serious skin condition of sheep called alveld, "elf fire", in Norway. It can be relieved by moving stock into the shade. Not all stands of the plant are toxic, and the toxicity may be the side effect of the plant's response to a fungal infection.[7][8][9]
Distribution and habitat
The Bog asphodel has a temperate oceanic distribution in northern and western Europe. In the British Isles it occurs in Scotland, Northwest England, Wales, Southwest England and most of Ireland. It grows in wet soils and peats, in bogs, wet heaths and flushes.[10] It can be found in purple moor grass and rush pastures.[2]
Gallery
In situ near El Serrat, Andorra
Illustration in Jakob Sturm: "Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen", Stuttgart (1796)
References
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^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
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^ a b "Pacific Bulb Society | Narthecium". pacificbulbsociety.org. Retrieved 2017-02-23.
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^ a b Richard Mabey Flora Britannica
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^ Hagerup, O. 1950. Rain-pollination. I kommission hos E. Munksgaard. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
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^ McClintock, David; Fitter, R.S.R. (1961). The Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers. London: Collins. p. 201.
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^ Sterry, Paul (2006). Complete British wild flowers. London: Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-720469-4.
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^ Handbook of Plant and Fungal Toxicants by J. P. Felix D'Mello
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^ George B. B. Mitchell, 'Non-parasitic skin diseases of sheep' In Pract., Vol. 10, Issue 2, 69-73, March 1, 1988
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^ Arne Flåøyen, 'Studies on the aetiology and pathology of alveld'
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^ "Narthecium ossifragum". Online Atlas of the British and Irish Flora. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
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Narthecium ossifragum: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Narthecium ossifragum, commonly known as bog asphodel, Lancashire asphodel or bastard asphodel, is a species of flowering plant in the family Nartheciaceae. It is native to Western Europe, found on wet, boggy moorlands up to about 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in elevation. It produces spikes of bright yellow flowers in summer. The bright orange fruits have been used as a colourant to replace saffron by Shetland Islanders. Despite the plant's English name "bog asphodel", it is not particularly closely related to the true asphodels. In addition to other forms of pollination, this plant is adapted to rain-pollination. The Latin specific name ossifragum means "bone-breaker", and refers to a traditional belief that eating the plant caused sheep to develop brittle bones. The probable origin of this story is that sheep eating a calcium-poor diet are likely to develop bone weakness, and N. ossifragum favours acidic low-calcium soils.
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
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