Melampyrum pratense - Common Cow-wheat - (Scrophulariaceae)

This common wildflower is found throughout the UK and Ireland. It is also found throughout many countries in northern and central Europe including Slovenia.

Common Cow-wheat

Common Cow-wheat on the edge of woodland in North Wales

Common Cow-wheat, Melampyrum pratense, is much less glamorous than its close relative Field Cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense), a beautiful wildflower that is now very rare in the UK, but nevertheless it brightens up the edges of acid woodland with deep golden flowers in the summer. It flowers from May until September and can also be found on heaths.

Melampyrum pratense

The flowers on this page were photographed in North Wales in June.