Lesser Centaury

Lesser Centaury Centaurium pulchellum is rarely more than a few centimetres in height, and the smallest specimens may only reach a one or two. It's nearly always much smaller than its congener, Common Centaury, and it can be spotted by its more delicate star-shaped flowers, which are a deeper and redder shade of pink, and close in the afternoon. It's a relatively uncommon species, favouring compacted clay and chalk soils that are seasonally damp. 

It's a characteristic species of brick-pits and other brownfield sites, and this unseasonally late flower was photographed on a trip to King's Dyke NR to gather stoneworts for a display at an Open Day tomorrow. Fortunately the weather was perfect for Chris and I to trek round this large site, and in the end we managed to find eight species of stonewort, as many as could reasonably be expected.

Ben had his mock maths exam today, which will decide whether he can continue with the A level. I was delighted to get a text telling me that he'd aced it! A very satisfying way to end the week :)