Wild Mignonette
Reseda lutea
Wild Mignonette is a summer-green, mostly biennial to perennial herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 30 to 70 centimeters. It features pinnatifid leaves and forms dense, racemose inflorescences with small, pale yellow flowers. The species is thermophilic and prefers base-rich, often calcareous soils in sunny locations such as roadsides or dry grasslands.
Details
Habitat function
Provides habitat and food source in dry-warm ruderal communities and semi-dry grasslands.
Food source for
Reseda masked bee (Hylaeus signatus), Bath White butterfly (Pontia edusa).
Human use
Formerly occasionally used as a dye plant, though less effective than Weld (Reseda luteola).
Ecology
Ecological role
Important source of nectar and pollen for specialized wild bees and a food plant for the larvae of Pierid butterfly species.
Ecosystem service
Support of biodiversity by providing food for pollinators in dry habitats.
Threats
Intensification of agriculture, loss of ruderal areas, and eutrophication.
Scientific profile
Profile
Reproduction
Exclusively generative via seeds; the plant produces a high number of seeds in upright capsules.
Protection & threats
Main threats
Agricultural intensification, excessive fertilization, scrub encroachment of dry grasslands due to abandonment of use, herbicide application on roadsides.