England's National Nature Reserves

Leper’s bells, chequered lilies or frawcups, the snakeshead fritillary has many local names. although nationally rare today it can still be seen in a few seasonally flooded meadows in abundance. As an early flowering plant it relies upon insects such as queen bumblebees for pollination. Usually a deep purple with snakeskin like patterning, in some meadows a considerable number are pure white. Some believe that it followed the path of the Romans springing up in their footsteps.