Epimedium alpinum
Epimedium x versicolor Flowers of Sulphur
I was very amused to see the following Wickipedia entry on the humble Epimedium that I was admiring in the garden this morning:
Epimedium, also known as Rowdy Lamb Herb, Barrenwort, Bishops Hat, Fairy Wings, Horny Goat Weed, or Yin Yang Huo (Chinese: 淫羊藿), is a genus of about 60 or more species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Berberidaceae. The large majority are endemic to southern China, with further outposts in Europe, and central, southern and eastern Asia.
Epimedium species are hardy perennials. The majority have four-petaled "spider-like" flowers in spring. Many are believed to be aphrodisiacs, particularly horny goat weed*
* "Horny Goat Weed may offer Viagra alternative". www.meeja.com.au. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2008-09-30
I was actually only innocently looking up its provenance, and the Chinese connection explains why we have had such a bumper flowering this spring, after the unusually hard Kentish winter.
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