Bedstraw on Blacka is Heath Bedstraw a relative of Ladies Bedstraw which is yellow. Explanations of the name are somewhat speculative and lost in history, but one of them mentions a supposed link with the mother of Christ and another a link with the norse Goddess of married women who used it as a sedative. Around Blacka this year there seems more of the white Heath Bedstraw than ever and it's a very welcome element in the mix of species on the edges of paths.
But one more extensive patch of it shows evidence that a large animal, perhaps a stag, has been lying on it. So is there something about its scent that encourages relaxation in wilder animals?
No comments:
Post a Comment