Butterbur - A Female Flower Spike

You may have been wondering what a Butterbur female flower spike looks like(?). Well, I found this rather fine specimen on the river bank, at Stretford, yesterday and thought I'd post a photograph.

These particular flowers have probably already been fertilised as the local male flower spikes are already turning brown and are fading (suggesting that they have shed their pollen). In the next few weeks the female spike will elongate into a 'tassel' and produce seeds to be dispersed on the wind.

Dave Bishop, March 2009