Filago lutescens Jordan (F. apiculata GE Sm.)
Conservation status: VU
First record: Boswell Syme, 1847
[not mentioned for Cambridgeshire, ...CC Babington, Ann.Nat.Hist.(2) 1848,2:292]. 25
Gamlingay, n.c., Hb Boswell Syme, 20.5.1847, BM.
Gamlingay, CC Babington, 24.5.1849, CGE.
Gamlingay, WW Newbould, 10.1849, CGE.
Gamlingay, near the mills, CC Babington, 26.7.1855, det Holub, CGE.
Gamlingay, CC Babington, 1855, K.
Gamlingay, where it was first found in 1849 by CCB. Bab.1860,126 & Bab.MS.Fl.399.
Went to Gamlingay with Stratton and Hiley;... In a lane by the sand pit on the Potton Road we found Filago apiculata, and also the same plant in the road near the site of Old Hall. 26.7.1855. Bab.Mem.178.
Gamlingay, CC Babington, 22.7.1862, CGE.
Bonney and I... visited Gamlingay... Every spot is so thoroughly under cultivation now that the botanizing is poor. Saw... Filago apiculata,... 22.7.1862. Bab.Mem.199.
Filag api Gamlingay. Bab.ann.Relhan,339.
Gamlingay, CC Babington, 22.7.1862, CGE.
Gamlingay, WP Hiern, 1866, det TCG Rich, RAMM.
Filag api at Gamlingay. West,1898,253.
Gamlingay, fallow land on sand, RS Adamson, 1.8.1912, det TCG Rich, BM.
Gamlingay, greensand, CE Moss, 1.8.1912, CGE.
Gamlingay, roadside bank on lower Greensand, RS Adamson, 26.7.1913, det TCG Rich, BM.
Gamlingay, CE Moss, 27.7.1913, CGE.
Gamlingay, roadside,West ann.
Cows lane, Gamlingay, 25.9.1924, Mills ann. (? F.vulgaris TCG Rich)
Gamlingay, HB Foggitt, n.d. HDDS.
Gamlingay, Thos. J Foggitt, 13.9.1930, det TCG Rich, BM.
Gamlingay, roadside, JSL Gilmour, 11.10.1930, CGE.
Filago apiculata G.E.Smith Found very sparingly on a roadside at Gamlingay where, or in the near neighbourhood, Babington first discovered it in 1849. Very rarely are more than two plants seen in any one year. Evans,1939,95. 44
Went with Dr Cookson to Triplow; examined the turfholes. and went to a good piece of boggy land at the Great and Little Nine Wells. Found there... Filago apiculata, etc. 17.7.1860, Bab.Mem.195. 45
Cambridge, RH Lock, Aug.1899, CGE. 55
Little Abington, sand pit, B Jackson & J Hirsh, 6.7.1990.
Little Abington, near and on top of steep south facing bank of sand pit, locally abundant, with F. vulgaris rare, G Crompton Pop. map & CPs & B Jackson 27.6.1990, CGE.
Little Abington, sand pit, spread considerably, 1000+, B Jackson & J Hirsh,1991 & 1992.
Published in Watsonia (1991), 18(4):430. 'Sand pit, Little Abington, GR 52/55. B.Jackson and J.Hirsh, 1990, det. PD Sell, CGE. 1st post1930 record.'
Sand pit and field edge, B Jackson, G Crompton & DA Wells, 4.7.1994, conf. TCG Rich, CGE. [sand pit, scattered but fewer plants, less F. vulgaris and F. minima v.small, area very dry, s.d. ].
Counted 512 plants in scattered colonies around and in sand pit. There is more rabbit activity and some Filago (?sp.) and adjacent corn, has been eaten. The plants were up to 8 inches tall. Some of the seedlings were unbranched in dense clumps of c.20, G Crompton, CPs and Pop.map, & DA Wells with B Jackson, 11.7.1997.
Many runnells down side of pit, caused by soil erosion, probably from heavy rainfalls. Numerous plants, mostly very small prostrate/rosettes with one runnell in the shade well colonized. Rabbits also still present and scraping soil sway. Only a few plants have been grazed. Filago vulgaris also present but F. minima not found. G Crompton, B Jackson & NP Millar, 12.7.2001.
[Wood street, Chatteris, 6.9.1888, AF.ann. Chatteris, AF.cat.; [unconfirmed]
Also in a garden at Chatteris, Evans,1911,229. [unconfirmed]
Toft, HB Boswell Syme, 1857. BM. [?error]