As part of our ongoing work with the Species Recovery Trust, our site is being used as an experimental area for Darnel (Lolium temulentum), a plant that arrived in Britain in Roman times and one that was originally considered a serious pest of crops, mentioned both in the Bible and Shakespeare. In the twentieth century, seed cleaning technology and the increased use of pesticides meant Darnel was exterminated from the wild, and up to now has been extinct in the UK. However, we are delighted to announce that the seeds planted at Butser have germinated and we now have a small crop of Darnel growing on site!
The plant has a fascinating history, particularly with regard to medieval myths surrounding witchcraft. The seeds contain a mild toxin if eaten, and can also act as a natural host for the ergot fungus. Ergot causes a wide range of symptoms including temporary hallucinations, and an outbreak in Massachusetts may have been behind the Salem witchcraft trials!
This particular project has used a small number of seeds collected from Inis Meain off the coast of western Ireland, and aims to bring the plant back from extinction and into a small number of trial sites like Butser Ancient Farm. For more information visit www.speciesrecoverytrust.org.uk