Common Cow-wheat
Melampyrum pratense
Melampyrum pratense, the common cow-wheat, is a plant species in the family Orobanchaceae.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melampyrum_pratense
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Family
Orobanchaceae
Genus
Melampyrum
Common Cow-wheat belongs to the family Orobanchaceae, order Lamiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Melampyrum pratense, the common cow-wheat, is a plant species in the family Orobanchaceae.
Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and changes in woodland management practices. As a hemiparasitic plant dependent on specific host species and particular light conditions, it is highly vulnerable to disruption of traditional extensive grazing systems and natural woodland dynamics.
Key Facts
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense) faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and changes in woodland management practices. As a hemiparasitic plant dependent on specific host species and particular light conditions, it is highly vulnerable to disruption of traditional extensive grazing systems and natural woodland dynamics.
Agricultural intensification and grassland conversion
Loss of traditional extensive grazing management
Competition from invasive or aggressive plant species
Habitat fragmentation
Woodland management changes affecting light levels
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Common Cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/common-cow-wheat