Red under the sun

DAY 21 (26 APR) – Cock’s-head (Hedysarum coronarium) (El Palmar, Spain)

First day of pure blue sky. Described as a perennial herb, these bright red cock’s-heads are everywhere behind the long beach. I also saw them yesterday by the roadside in the La Janda Wetland.

They are native to North Africa and this part of Spain. It’s easy to see how the seeds could blow across the Gibraltar Straits on the strong Levante wind.

Cock’s-head is sometimes cultivated for animal fodder and hay. The roots are also apparently a major food source for grizzly bears – though nowhere near here!