Species: Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica)
Family: Asters (ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: SE
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Asters (ASTERACEAE or COMPOSITAE)
This is one of the largest worldwide flowering plant families and is well represented in the UK. The name Compositae refers to the clustering of the flowers (called florets) into compact heads, so that an entire cluster represents a single 'flower'. They also have one-seeded fruits called achenes.
C. Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica)
Common Fleabane is a perennial that flowers late in the British summer. They have flower heads that resemble daisies, but are larger. They are found throughout Britain, but not in Scotland.
Plants whose names end in 'bane' have been derived from the Old English bana meaning something that causes death or is poisonous. "He's the bane of my life", was a familiar complaint about someone whose behaviour was disagreeable. This designation was usually specific, so 'dogbanes' were supposed to repel dogs, 'henbanes' were supposed to be poisonous to hens, and 'wolfsbane' was supposed to ward off wolves but was more specifically used for assassination.
The Common Fleabane was used to clear bedding of fleas: leave the plant in your bed during the evening and just before bedtime, one would remove it and throw it onto the fire along with all the fleas that had been attracted to it.
The individual plant growing in the Cemetery was probably introduced in a wild flower 'mat'.
Images
Common Fleabane
Common Fleabane is a perennial that flowers late in the British summer.
Common Fleabane
Common Fleabane has flower heads that resemble daisies, but are larger.
Common Fleabane
The Common Fleabane is found throughout Britain, but not in Scotland.
