Melampyrum arvense

Why it’s special
A real beauty, the flower of the extremely rare Field Cowwheat has been described as ‘like a purple, rose and yellow pagoda’. Once widespread and regarded as the ‘poverty weed’ because it gave a bad taste to flour and devalued the price of corn, the continued existence of this flamboyant semi-parasitic plant is precarious. It does best after a dry spring and flowers in August amongst grasses.

Where to find it
Now confined to just four sites in Britain – two of them on the Isle of Wight, Field Cow-wheat survives in the Wildlife Trust reserve of St Lawrence Bank near Whitwell in the Island’s south and on a nearby cliff.

What else is there at St Lawrence Bank?
Another Isle of Wight SSSI, this field is best seen in the summer when its scarce plant species flower. Nearby the St Lawrence Undercliff Wildlife Reserve also boasts rare plants that cope well with its dry, exposed conditions. The scarce Italian Lords-and-Ladies grows on the cliff face whilst Field Cow-wheat and Bastard Toadflax are found amongst Meadow Clary and Horseshoe Vetch on the High Hat downland above the Undercliff.

Best time to see
Summer

Find out more
www.hwt.org.uk/files/stlawb.pdf
OS Grid Reference: SZ 535 768
Access from the coast footpath to the south

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