Wildlife Watch: The Bluebell

Stroll through a woodland this time of year and you'll likely be met with a carpet of bluebells on the woodland floor. This is a sight less often seen outside of the UK; in fact we may have up half the world's bluebell population. Our native bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) is protected as a result as well as overcollection in the past, this means it is an offence to uproot a wild plant. It is known as a AWI species (an ancient woodland indicator) a sign of a woodland that's been around since at least 1600CE as bluebells are slow to colonise new areas. Plants found outside woodlands but that have not been planted are usually signs of where the woodland once was... unless it's a Spanish bluebell.

You can tell if a bluebell is native or a Spanish bluebell by having a look at the flowers. Generally native bluebells are a deeper colour with flowers dropping on one side. Spanish bluebells have paler, wider flowers spiralled around the stem. As our native bluebells will hybridise with Spanish this can make identification harder but there is a simpler difference. Inside the flowers native bluebells have white anthers whilst Spanish and hybrids have purple.

(Left) Native bluebell                        (Right) Spanish bluebell

An interesting trick can be done to change a bluebell into a crimson one through another woodland species - the wood ant. 

Wood ants will bite in defense but also spray formic acid. This reacts with the pigments in the petals changing them to a bright pink. By finding an active ants nest you can agitate the ants into attacking the bluebell to create this reaction. Pretty interesting to see although it does smell a lot like vinegar!

Midway through changing colours gives a 'tie-die' effect to the petals