Bog asphodel

Look out for bog asphodel, a positive peatland indicator plant in ACRES. It is a short plant with bright yellow flowers arranged in short spikes. In the centre of the star-like arrangement of petals are conspicuous furry stamens with orange anthers at the tips. Leaves are slightly curved narrow blades held in very flattened bunches. They turn orange in autumn before falling off. Although it has no nectar, its scent attracts invertebrates. Its latin name ossifragum meaning bone breaker, a name that comes from the belief that the bones of animals that fed on it became brittle. Bog asphodel nó Sciollam na Móna is part of our native Irish biodiversity.

Bog asphodel habitat