SPECIES DESCRIPTION
FILAGO PYRAMIDATA
Family:- COMPOSITAE
Common Names:- Broad leaved cudweed
Synonyms:- Filago germanica subsp. pyramidata, Filago germanica var.
pyramidata, Gifola pyramidata, Gnaphalium germanicum var. pyramidatum,
Gnaphalium pyramidatum,
Meaning:- Filago (L) Thread.
Pyramidata (Gr) Conical, pyramidal.
General description:- Herbaceous plant.
Stem:-
1) (2-)5-30(-40) cm., white greyish, downy, spreading or prostrate.
Leaves:-
1) Simple, alternate, entire, narrow, parallel-sided or lance-shaped to oblong,
sometimes spatulate, from 15 to 20 mm length, slightly undulate.
Flowers:-
1) Capitula, yellow, 3·5-6 x 2-2·5 mm, pyramidal, sharply 5-angled, in clusters of 5-
20; clusters 5-12 mm wide, sometimes overtopped by subtending leaves.
2) Involucral bracts, 2·5-4·5 x 1-1·3 mm, 4-6 in each vertical row, keeled,
stramineous, without reddish colouration, softly lanate on the back, distinctly
divergent in fruit, with a recurved arista 1-1·5 mm.
3) Inner female florets (0-)5-7; hermaphrodite 4-7.
Fruit:-
1) Achenes, 0·5-0·8 mm, cylindrical to oblong-ovoid.
2) Pappus, brown at maturity.
Key features:-
1) Bracts 4-6 in 5 distinct vertical rows, not reddish, with recurved apex.
2) Capitula ± 5-angled.
3) Florets 4-10, hermaphrodite; inner female florets (0-)5-7.
Habitat:- Open patches in dry shrubby vegetation, sandy fallow fields, vineyards,
olive groves, road-sides. 0-700 m. (to 1300 m. in dolines). later.
Distribution:- Widespread and common throughout the Mediterranean area. fairly
widespread and common on Crete.
Flowering time:- Apr to early June, occasionally later.
Photos by:- Steve Lenton
