MELAMPYRUM. Cow-wheats. [Scrophulariaceae]

Five species of Melampyrum are recorded in Britain. These include the native Field Cow-wheat (M. arvense), Crested Cow-wheat (M. cristatum), Common Cow-wheat (M. pratense) and Small Cow-wheat (M. sylvaticum).

Field Cow-wheat (M. arvense) is protected under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.

Small Cow-wheat (M. sylvaticum) is protected in Northern Ireland under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order, 1985.

No Diptera miners are recorded on Melampyrum in Britain, but adults of the agromyzid Phytomyza nigrifemur have been recorded on Melampyrum nemorosum and Phytomyza flavofemorata feeds in the seeds elsewhere.

Elsewhere the agromyzid Phytomyza rostrata is recorded mining Melampyrum.

No non-Diptera miners are recorded on Melampyrum in Britain.