Red Bartsia

Description

Odontites vernus, the red bartsia,is a wild flower from the figwort family native to Europe and Asia and occurring as an alien in North America. The red bartsia is a common plant in low-fertility soils, where it lives partially as a parasite on the roots of grasses. The red bartsia has pinkish and red flowers from June to September. They prefer dry conditions and full sun light exposure and are pollinated by bees and wasps. Over the last 70 years, the red bartsia has disappeared from many woodland locations in the English county of Dorset.