Early Butterbur.

 Butterbur. Photo. John Elliott. Click to enlarge.       

The Butterbur that grows on the bankside by the sewage pumping station is flowering very early again this year, a few days after Christmas instead of a few days before as it was last year.   Climate change or the nutritious overflow from the pumping station when it can't cope? Or perhaps both. The purplish flowers  appear well before the large leaves which were used in pre-plastic days to wrap butter, hence the name. All our plants are 'male', the 'female' occuring mainly in the north of England.

Local Dorset names include 'Early Mushroom' as they look like small button mushrooms as they push through the soil, and 'Snake's Rhubarb'. 

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