Latin name: Anagallis arvensis
Common name: Scarlet pimpernel
Other names: Old man’s weathervane, shepherd’s weatherglass, bird’s tongue, burnet rose, eyebright, little Joan, wink-a-peep
How to spot it and where to find it: With its pretty star-shaped flowers, the scarlet pimpernel has the distinction of being one of our few native arable weeds. The bright blooms, usually flame-red but occasionally pink, are borne singly on long, square stalks with oval leaves. It is found on waste ground, roadside verges, open and arable land and sand dunes and is common across the UK, though largely confined to the coasts of Scotland.
Interesting facts: Baroness Emmuska Orczy made this plant famous when she wrote The Scarlet Pimpernel, about a dashing masked hero who tried to rescue the French aristocracy from the guillotine. He…
