Brentjong display field
The Pfyn-Finges Nature Park is committed to enhancing and preserving the traditional cultural and natural landscape. In Brentjong, it creates impulses with its display field: The rare species of the arable flora in the field are specifically promoted and preserved there. The field is freely accessible to interested parties.
Ball mustard (German: Finch seed) (Neslia paniculata)
The yellow flowers stretch out like a protective umbrella over the nut-like pods. The plant has been given the name "finch seed" because the seeds are supposedly considered a delicacy among finches.
Carrot Bur Parsley or Burr Parsley (Caucalis platycarpos) - The stowaway
Its white flowers make the plant look innocent. But their fruits are covered with 4 rows of spines, which are hooked at the tip. Carrot bur parsley settles mainly on dry fields and calcareous soils. There it sprouts up to 30 cm in height. The seeds travel like stowaways on an animal skin or on our socks to new locations.
Corn (German: Field dog) chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) - risk of confusion
In the past, the term "dog" was prefixed to the name of a plant when it was to be avoided. Caution is also advised with the corn chamomile. Although it looks very similar to real camomile, it has no healing properties, no typical camomile smell and can even cause allergies.
Corn-cockle (Agrostemma githago L.) - Always a head taller
Flowers are dark pink and on a very long stem. This is an adaptation to tower over the winter cereals. The development rhythm of corn cockle is very similar to that of winter cereals. In summer cereals, the corn cockle ripens too late and can therefore only seed poorly. The seeds are slightly poisonous and must be removed from the grain crop (seed cleaning).
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) - The Enchanted One
Cyan - a shade of blue from the Middle East. The darker flower centre part gives the plant a mystical effect - as if you could see through a magic ball into your own past, present and future. That is why the cornflower plays an important role in mythology and still does in many customs today.
Field Larkspur (Consolida regalis Gray) - The blue late bloomer
The intense blue flowers of the field larkspur dominate the harvested grain fields. When the crop is mown, the plants are cut back and new flowering shoots develop. In order for the field larkspur to seed, the fields should not be ploughed until a few weeks after the harvest. The name larkspur is derived from the shape (spur) of the rearmost petal.
Field or greater rock-jasmine (Androsace maxima L.) - An inconspicuous loner
The greater rock-jasmine flowers very early in the year. Its flowers are white and inconspicuous. The plant loves the patchy edges of the fields, as it has too little light inside the crop. From the leaf rosettes formed in autumn, flower stems grow about 10 cm high in spring. The developed seeds fall to the ground and the plant dies afterwards.
Great pignut or Earth chestnut (Bunium bulbocastanum) - The native Brazil nut
The taste of the earth chestnut is reminiscent of the exotic Brazil nuts. The spherical tuber is ideally suited for consumption. While the tuber hidden in the soil tastes good on the plate, its white flowers decorate every bouquet. A treat for both the stomach and the eye!
Hairy star of Bethlehem (Gagea villosa) - herald of spring
The beautiful lily plant is severely threatened in its population by chemical weed control. The hairy star of Bethlehem lives up to its name in German (the field gold star). Its yellow flowers open as early as March and stretch out towards the sun - a feast for the eyes.
Hare's Ear or Hound's Ear (Bupleurum rotundifolium) - Rare elegance
The round-leaved hare's ear flowers in summer between June and July. Its elegant yellow flowers set the scene. The plant prefers sunny places on open soils and grows up to 60 cm high there. Unfortunately, it has become very rare in Switzerland and is highly endangered. Wild bees in particular miss this important forage plant.