Broad-leaved cudweed  (Filago pyramidata)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Threats

Changes in agricultural practices including greater use of herbicides, the loss of traditional crop rotations, destruction of field margins and highly productive crop planting, have probably been the most damaging to populations of the broad-leaved cudweed. There is also the problem of neglect and recreational pressures on disused chalk pits.

Conservation

This species is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plans (UKBAPs), and has been included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme (SRP). Along with its relative, red-tipped cudweed, and other endangered plants of arable land, the broad-leaved cudweed is part of a plan to encourage farmers and landowners to adopt some of the agri-environment schemes now available.

As relatively little is known about this species' ability to survive as dormant seed in the ground, the main task is to influence the management of those sites where it still occurs, or has been recorded in the recent past. Re-introducing the plant has not been ruled out as a future possibility, but more work will have to be done on finding out how long the seeds can survive before germination.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP.
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.
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