Crowgrass
Striga halitus
Somnaceae (the Dream family)
. * .
\|/
. --*-- .
/| / | / | . | .
/ | . \ | / .
\|//
|
.|.
/_|_
Description
A tall biennial with a deep taproot and rosette of basal leaves. Heart-shaped leaves with downy undersides and serrated margins.
Large, solitary blooms open at dusk and close before dawn, colored midnight black. Blooms after the first frost.
Habitat
Native to nowhere, found everywhere - a cosmopolitan wanderer.
Traditional Uses
Pressed flowers preserved in books were exchanged as tokens of affection.
Folklore
Said to be beloved by bees from hives that produce the clearest honey.
Similar Species
Grows alongside Shadowfern.
Conservation
Status unknown - more surveys needed.
Field Notes
Best observed in early morning when dew collects on the leaves.