A Beautiful Killer

Bog Asphodel, Narthecium ossifragum, is one of the prettiest of our early summer wildflowers.  Despite its name, it seems to be able to grow on a wide range of local soils - this one was photographed on a thin, gravelly soil near Achnaha.  The flower has the most beautiful yellow to orange colours, and a close look will reveal some intricate structures along its six stamens.

It isn't a true Asphodel but a Lily, which makes it sound even more beautiful, particularly if you remove the word 'Bog'.

Something about the weather this year has suited Bog Asphodel, which is surprising since it has been so dry that many of our bogs have almost dried out.  In places there are carpets of Bog Asphodel growing in amongst the grasses.

All The Diary's affection for the plant has been destroyed by some very bad news from Millburn croft.  The Millburn flock is tended with great care by Alayne and Gillespie Cameron.  But this year their lambs have suffered as a result of eating Bog Asphodel.

Bog Asphodel causes sheep serious kidney problems and a photosensitivity disorder called 'yellowses' or 'plochteach'.  The symptoms include swelling of the face, eyelids, lips and limbs, which causes the animal to shake its head or kick at it with its hind limbs; it also rubs itself against gate and fence posts.  The wool falls off, the tips of the ears begin to die, and the ear becomes bloody and call also fall off.  The animal becomes extremely distressed and very ill.  Treatment is difficult, but the discomforts can be eased by keeping the animal in a dark place.

The Camerons' flock was badly hit.  Two of their lambs became seriously ill.  The one in the photograph subsequently died.

Read all about the chemistry of this poison here, and some veterinary details here.