Cowslip (Primula veris) - a photo on Flickriver

            Cowslips are one of the best known spring flowers. The cup-shaped, yellow flowers grow in nodding clusters on tall stalks. The leaves are oval with relatively wrinkled edges similar to the Primrose, but narrowing more abruptly into the stalk.
They can be found in open woods, meadows, pastures and roadsides. They tend to favour rank grasses and scrub rather than amongst large numbers of spring-grazing sheep.Its cultural history suggests that it was once as common as the Buttercup however, it suffered a decline between 1930 and 1980, mainly due to the loss of the grasslands where it grows. It's dramatic decline in the 1950s was due to the relentless advance of modern farming, particularly the ploughing of old grassland and the extension of the use of chemical herbicides. Fortunately, it is now showing signs of recovery and has begun to return to unsprayed verges and village greens as well as colonising the banks of new roads. It has probably been assisted by the scattering of wild flower seed mixtures. Vast masses have reappeared in Hertfordshire where grazing pressures have eased. the county flower of Northamptonshire, Worcestershire and Surrey.
In the 'Language of Flowers' it symbolises comeliness and winning grace
Cowslip allegedly means cowpat! Our ancestors noted that they tended to flower where a cow had ‘slupped'.
As an early spring flower, it is closely associated with much English folklore and tradition, including being strewn on church paths for weddings and adorning garlands for May Day.
In addition to The Tempest, the ‘freckled cowslip' also appears in Shakespeare's Henry V as a sign of a well-managed pasture.
Its scent is not dissimilar to that of an apricot. Richard Mabey describes the scent as 'faintly fruity and dill-like.'
Tea made from the flowers is meant to be good for insomnia, headaches and nervous tension. The scented flowers also make delicious wines.
Some of the many enchanting vernacular names include freckled face, golden drops, bunch of keys, fairies' flower, lady's fingers, long legs and milk maidens. Welsh names include dagrau Mair, 'Mary's tears'. Paigle is another name used rather indiscriminately for any wild primula.
The nodding flowers suggests the bunch of keys which were the badge of St. Peter. One legend is that Peter was told that a duplicate key to Heaven had been made and therefore let his keys drop. The Cowslip broke from the ground where the keys fell.
They share their family's tendency to produce a profusion of variations including the variety known to gardeners as 'Devon Red' and orange-flowered forms.
In a cowslip’s bell I lie William Shakespeare, "The Tempest"
   

Taken on: April 26, 2020

Tags:

cowslip

latin

yellow

Wild

flower

beautiful

Bokeh

Nature Photography

macro photography

Sigma 105

macro

prime lens

nodding

clusters

spring

water

droplets

dew

Sunny Day

Sent

apricots

green stalk

wildlife photography « less

Groups appears in: • FLOWERS • EXTREME CLOSEUP more » • Colors of the World • Nikon Digital • UK Flickr users • Magic Moments • Macro Studies • Artistic Photography • Beautiful Light • !Catchy Colors • Color and Colors - No computer-generated posts. • Flickr Addicts • Macro Madness • Your Postcard Shot • Minimalism • Young Photographers • Grain is Good • !FlickrSoup for Soul • Amateurs • Creative • British Wildlife • visit the world - the travel guide • Natural Macros • Analog Photography • Flickritis: over 87,000 waiting for a vaccine. • - I LOVE NATURE - • Macro Photography • National Geographic Wannabes • Flickr Nature • Photography Corner • Nature Scenes • This • Nature Photography • Nice pictures • Art by Nature • ANYTHING ALLOWED!!!!!! • COLOR [directory] 色 • Nikon DSLR Users • Your photo goes here! no 30/60 • Flower Photography • Flower Close-Ups • Nature and Landscapes • Bokeh: Smooth & Silky • The Magic of Nature • Nature Heals the Soul • Anything Nature • Digital Photography School • All things beautiful in Nature (no humans or man made objects) • Macros Group • Flowers Group • In A Country"FLOWER" Garden (NO BORDERS) • Shield Of Excellence • ! ART & PHOTOGRAPHY ! All artistic works welcome • World Wide Photographers • we love wildlife • Nature and Photography • Flowers Galore • * FABULOUS FLOWERS (moderators needed) • Macro! Macro!! Macro!!! • "FRIENDS" P1/A2 • Your Best Photography • * FLOWER Macros & Close-ups (NO insects, seeds, b&w) • Macro Photography Unlimited • Extreme Bokeh • NaturePhotographs • Nature...Anything Goes • NATURE'S BEST • " Damn Cool Photographers in the WORLD " .♥.♥.♥ • Macro! Closeup Shots! • FOR THE LOVE OF MACRO • Art of Nature • Flowers Macro World - Feel free to join us! • Nature Photographers • Macro Flower Lovers - (P1C2) • Flowers all kinds • !!FlickrGreen ~ Everyday is Earth Day!! • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" • Creative Art Photography • Colourful! • Spring and Summer Around the World ❀ • *Nature Pics* • GR8 - Photos • Fine Art Photography™ • This is Excellent • Countryfile • Flowers Planet Photography • Capture Nature / No human elements / No Zoo shots or people in y • ★ Macro - Up Close and Personal ★ • MARIPOSAS&BIRDS&FLORA&FAUNA&BUTTERFLY • Colour Mania • Micro Four Thirds Community • " Your BEST of Today " - Through MY Eyes • !!Perfect Composition!! • Flickr's Biggest Group • National Geographic Wild Life • National Geographic | World Wide • Bokeh-holics Anonymous • Super Macro Photography • ! F l i c k r | S t y l e ! • Perfect Petals - P1/A3- No Bugs or Man Made Objects ✿ • National Wildlife Magazine Photo Group • DNG Photo Magazine • as beautiful as you want • ***Flickr Global • Your Love of Nature • National Geographic Group • *That's MY Photo ! * • NATURE'S PRIME (P1/A4) • Creative Photographer on Flickr! (Post 1 - Award 1) • NATURE IS LIFE - Natura è vita - Post 1 AWARD 4**SWEEPER ** • Nikon - Nature • [][][]All Welcome[][][] • NATURE RULES!!! • Micro Four Thirds (Micro 4/3) • Las 4 estaciones&The 4 seasons. Vivaldi (P 1/C 2) • RSPB Love Nature • *Earth *Nature *Life • "U.K. Photo Gallery" ( All Welcome ) • National Geographic Photos Group • Your Very Best • Color my world! • National Geographic Society • A Photographer [No AI or SL] • Makro-Welten - Worlds of Macro • [][][]100%PERFECT[][][] • Fine Gold • flower power! • Flower Flower Flower • Any kind of wildlife/nature • Anything Nikon!! • ***FLORA *FAUNA *from around the world*** • flickr (unofficial) • Nikon D7100 / D7200/ D7500 CLUB • flickr every day! • Blumen, Blumen, Blumen ... Flower, Flower, Flower ... • Macro in nature • Magic of Photography • High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty {AONB} • Amateur Photographer Magazine • Today's Flickr • !*Flickr All Stars*! • Nature and Animals (Wild Only) • Flickr Explore It • Colours of Flickr • !*Natures Beauty*! • FLICKR INTERNATIONAL - No 30/60 Groups Limit • Flickr Photo Unlimited (No People) • The best photographs from around the world. • BEAUTY PHOTOS AROUND THE WORLD « less

Stats: 9,008 views / 63 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: