Weeping Widow

A grey, still day which turned to rain soon after I left the house for a walk. I went to our local hay-meadow to see how the Fritillary plants were getting on. Despite the relatively early spring, only a few were close to flowering. Most were in bud, muted in colour with noticeable pale shoulders. 

This charismatic species is characteristic of flood-plain meadows, but is now thought to have been introduced to the UK, as the first records of them growing in the wild date from the 18th century. It seems inconceivable that botanists would not have noticed them earlier than this if they had been a native species, as they grow in areas that are accessible and often close to settlements. 

Their appearance has given rise to a whole host of vernacular names - the shape of the bud gives rise to Snake's-head, the patterning of the flowers gives rise to Chequered Lily and Guinea Hen Flower, the shape to Drooping Bell of Sodom and Frockup, while the fact that they are poisonous may have given rise to the more sombre names such as Death Bell, Doleful Bells of Sorrow and Weeping Widow. This last name hales from Northamptonshire, the closest county to this population, so seemed appropriate.