Friday 17 May
Shepherd's needle (Scandix pecten-veneris)
Shepherd's needle fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Shepherd's needle description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Anthophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Apiales |
| Family | Apiaceae |
| Genus | Scandix (1) |
Shepherd's needle is a member of the carrot family (4), has highly divided 'frizzy' pinnate leaves and produces tiny white flowers arranged in clusters called umbels (2). The fruits can reach up to 80 mm in length and are long, narrow and pointed; it is these structures that the common name refers to (2). The Latin name pecten-veneris means 'Venus's comb'; this name arose because the fruits tend to be arranged side-by-side, and were thought to look like a comb (5).
- Size
- Height: up to 50 cm (2)
Shepherd's needle biology
This annual plant tends to germinate in October and early November (3), and flowers between May and August (2). The seeds are not able to stay dormant for long, so the plant is at risk of local extinction during times of unsuitable habitat management (3).
TopShepherd's needle range
Once known throughout much of the UK, and considered common until the 1950s (6), this species has suffered a precipitous decline and is now restricted to the south and east of England (3). Elsewhere, the species occurs in Europe reaching north to Denmark and west to the UK, it has also declined in eastern and north-western Europe (3).
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Species with a similar range
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You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Shepherd's needle habitat
Inhabits arable fields, wasteland and coastal sites subject to disturbance, and shows a preference for heavy clay soils (3).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Shepherd's needle status
Classified as Nationally Scarce in Great Britain (3).
TopShepherd's needle threats
Like many arable 'weed' species, shepherd's needle has suffered as a result of agricultural changes including the use of chemical fertilisers and herbicides, changes in crop rotation practices, the loss of field-margins and the introduction of highly competitive types of crops (3). A particular threat seems to have been stubble burning, which was banned in the early 1990s. Since the ban there is some evidence to suggest that the species has begun to recover in some areas (6).
TopShepherd's needle conservation
This plant is a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) priority species. Plantlife, the wild plant conservation charity, is the lead partner responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Species Action Plan devised to guide the conservation of shepherd's needle. This plan aims to maintain the current range of the plant and to aid the recolonisation of former sites. A further proposal is the establishment of an
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There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
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The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for this species is available at UK BAP. |
Find out more
For more information on this species see:
Plantlife Species Dossier:
http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/assets/saving-species/saving-species-dossier/Scandix_pecten-veneris_dossier.pdf
Authentication
Information authenticated by Plantlife, the wild plant conservation charity:
http://www.plantlife.org.uk
Glossary
- Annual
- Lives or grows for just one year.
- Ex-situ
- Measures to conserve a species or habitat that occur outside of the natural range of the species. E.g. in zoos or botanical gardens.
- Pinnate
- In plants, a compound leaf where the leaflets (individual 'leaves') are found on either side of the central stalk.
- Umbel
- In plants, a usually umbrella-shaped flower cluster in which the individual flower stalks originate at roughly the same point.
References
- National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (March, 2002)
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/ - Press, B. and Gibbons, B. (1993) Photographic field guide: Wild Flowers of Britain and Europe. New Holland (Publishers) Ltd., London.
- UK BAP Species Action Plan (March, 2002)
http://www.ukbap.org.uk - Fisher, J. (1987) Wild Flowers In Danger. H. F. and G. Witherby, Ltd., London.
- Grigson, G. (1996) The Englishman's Flora. Helicon Publishing Ltd., Oxford.
- Mabey, R. (1996) Flora Britannica. Sinclair-Stevenson, London.
More »Related species
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Image credit
Shepherd's needle in flower
© Ron D. Porley
Ron D. Porley
Foxhold House
Crookham Common
Thatcham
RG15 8EL
United Kingdom
ron.porley@english-nature.org.uk
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