Wild Wednesday - Scarlet pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel, scientific name, Anagallis arvensis, is a flowering weed, known for its bright, colourful flowers that come in shades of red, blue, or purple, but the most common variety is the scarlet-red flower. The petals are typically five and have a star-like shape. The leaves are opposite, oval, and have a smooth edge and are bright green.
Scarlet Pimpernel is a native annual plant of the UK, preferring well-drained soil can be found growing in agricultural fields, vineyards, orchards, pastures, grasslands, landscaped urban areas and on roadsides.
It usually grows from about 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimetres) tall and the plants regenerates by seed which requires light for germination.
Once considered a weed of cornfields, the scarlet pimpernel is now in decline due to intensive agricultural practices.
As with most weeds, don't allow scarlet pimpernel to become established as it has an ability to spread quickly, making it more difficult to fully control it, so early identification and eradication is important.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is famous because of Baroness Orczy's 1905 novel "The Scarlet Pimpernel", in which the flower was used as a symbol by a group of English aristocrats who secretly rescued French aristocrats from the guillotine during the French Revolution. The character used the symbol of the red flower to mark their presence.
A warning - scarlet pimpernel is poisonous if ingested by man, dogs and horses.
Read more: Scarlet pimpernel | The Wildlife Trusts