Trackside Scenery

 Trackside Flora

 

Railways are a micro community, often bringing rural flora and fauna into urban environments. three of the most common plants common to railways are shown below.

Busch Lupins

Lupinus, is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae. They are widely cultivated, both as a food source and as ornamental plants, but are invasive to some areas.

Tragopogon pratensis, Jack go to bed or Meadow Salisify, the plant is distributed across Europe, commonly growing in fields (hence its name) and on tracksides. The local name derives from its habit of the flower head closing before noon, it is found in Germany from NRW to Austria as well as across warmer parts of Europe.

It can grow to over a metre in height and is a prolific weed, the milky sap can be dried and used as chewing gum.

The other endemic weed often associated with railways is Chamerion angustifolium, Rose Bay Willowherb. Its tendency to quickly colonise open areas with little competition, such as sites of railway and forest fires, makes it a clear example of a pioneer species. Plants grow and flower as long as there is open space and plenty of light, it is found throughout Germany and most of Europe.

Buddleia - the butterfly bush

Known as the butterfly bush, the fragrant flowers of buddleja are a favourite nectar source for butterflies. These undemanding, mainly deciduous shrubs, find a place in every garden with their spectacular displays of blooms and honey scent.

 

 

 

 A short film of another local railway line - the Sekundärbahn Erlangen–Eschenau