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Red Bartsia

Red Bartsia

Odontites vulgaris

Identify the Red Bartsia from a photo and log your finds with Florapass.

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How common: Common

Alien species

Red Bartsia is a small annual wildflower of open, grassy places. It is partly parasitic: its roots tap nearby grasses for water and nutrients while it still makes its own food. In late summer it shows rows of reddish flowers along the upper stems. It is native across much of Eurasia and has also spread to North America.

Did you know?

  • A part‑time parasite, it steals some nutrients from neighboring plants yet still photosynthesizes.
  • Its flowers often line up on one side of the stem, and the top may droop slightly at first.

About the species

Identification

15–30 cm tall, slender and much‑branched from low on the stem. Side branches spread out then turn upright, often reaching nearly to the top. Leaves sit in pairs without stalks; they are narrow, widest near the base, pointed and clearly toothed. Small reddish to pink‑purple tubular flowers sit singly at the bases of the upper leaves, forming a long, loose, often slightly drooping line on one side of the stem; a slender tip often sticks out beyond each flower. Later, small 6–7 mm pods develop. Similar bartsias branch higher; Red Bartsia usually branches low. Flowers in Finland from July to September.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

meadow

Flowering

Jul–Sep

About the habitat

Found in sunny, disturbed grassland and edges: roadsides, field margins, hay meadows and pastures, yards, boat landings and shore meadows.

Sources

Photo: Stanislav Murashkin, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6185796843

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39649

Text: Pinkka: IPS-177 Fennoscandian flora - Maianthemum-Platanthera, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39649

Text: Pinkka: Pieni maatalouslajintuntemus - Puuvartiset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39649

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punas%C3%A4nki%C3%B6

See also