So many things to see on the ground

11:03am Monday 28th April 2008

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THE trouble is with watching nature at this time of year is that you don't know where to look. Keeping the eyes on the ground will reveal many wonderful plants including the butterbur which thrives alongside our rivers and canals.

This fascinating plant is a member of the Compositae family of which the daisy is the best known example. With the butterbur the male and female flower heads are carried on separate plants. The male flowers can be recognised by the fact that the stamens can be seen which is obviously not the case with the females.

Two varieties of butterbur occur. These are the common pink and the very rare white form. The white butterbur grows around the Ribble at Brungerley near Clitheroe. The flowers appear long before the leaves, but eventually these become huge and look like an open umbrella. The name Butterbur relates to the fact that in the old days before grease-proofed paper butter was wrapped in the leaves.

The leaves were also once dried, crushed and brewed like we brew tea. This drink causes the patient to sweat and was used in the treatment of high temperatures before we had antibiotics.

Talking about high temperatures, let us hope we get some good weather this year so that we can all enjoy the East Lancashire wildlife and countryside at its most beautiful.