Few-flowered garlic (Allium paradoxum)
Red Lily Beetle (Lilioceris lilii)
Yesterday I was cycling along the lanes West of Morpeth when I came across a huge swathe of Few-flowered Garlic (Allium paradoxum) on the edge of Tranwell woods. This is the first time I have seen this in the county. It is quite abundant in the Tweed valley and scattered elsewhere in the county. Just inside the wood the woodland floor was carpeted with this species. The bike ride started well with Lesser Whitethroat singing in the hedge between Tranwell village and the large water tanks; this was the first time I had ever seen or heard Lesser Whitethroat before Common Whitethroat but a few miles further on a fine male Whitethroat was singing and dancing along the hedge tops at Saltwick. The plants then took priority and I took dozens of pics. The beetle was in the compost bin in the garden. As it name implies it is very fond of lilies but I don't have any in the garden so this tiny beast was welcome.
5 comments:
Another nice beetle. I have only seen FFG at Embleton quarry last year, a new plant for me....
Amazing garlic!
Thanks for the comments...The garlic is scarcely recorded in VC67 but found in a few places in 68
The Few flowered garlic is very pretty. Never seen the species. Must check in case it occurs down here. I had a couple of the Red Lily Beetles on my Snakeshead Fritillaries last year :( Luckily, the plant has re-appeared this year - perhaps my reward for not killing the beetles!!
RR...Few flowered garlic is quite common in SE England and parts of Scotland and scattered elsewhere but worth keeping an eye open for as where it grows it can carpet an area. When I plant my Fritillaries I'll be keeping a closer eye out for those beetles!
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