Lesser Calamint

A long, hot and sticky day monitoring a disused sand quarry near Ipswich. There are several rare plants growing on the site, but possibly the prettiest is Lesser Calamint, a short-lived perennial herb of dry, south-facing banks and rough grassland on calcareous, sandy or gravelly soils. Formerly a pasture plant, it is now largely confined to roadsides, railway banks, churchyards and waste ground. It's true distribution is unknown as it is difficult to distinguish from Common Calamint and is also grown as a garden plants, with some records representing garden escapes. It's considered Vulnerable in the UK as a whole, but the English population appears stable.