Marsh Loosewort
Pedicularis palustris
Marsh Loosewort or Red Rattle is a lovely ‘shy’ perennial species that grows in wet grasslands and sunny places with very moist soil.
It’s one of our target species for conservation, as wetlands are disappearing far to fast.
It grows on the soil surface, poking a narrow root which attaches to other wetland species and reduces their growth, just like Yellow Rattle. (not related)
locally we find Pedicularis palustris on poorly drained compacted soils with winter surface water. It has germinated in our genebank where we hope to establish it on a ‘base richer’ surface wet, basic soil, with broken podzol layer which tend to develope a peaty soil over time. Our immediate peaty soil is the Abbeyfeale series of peat.
