Gnaphalium species - Cudweeds

Cudweeds are members of the large Asteraceae (Compositae) family. They look similar, reminiscent of a hairy Groundsel without the yellow.  Previously they were separated into Filago and Gnaphalium, but Filago has been split into Lofiga and Filago (incidentally anagrams) and Gnaphalium, into Laphangium, Pseudognaphalium, Omalotheca and Gamochaeta.

Gnaphalium uliginosum - Marsh Cudweed This is a common annual plant of damper waste ground and gutters. It is much branched from low down and smaller (4-20cm). The leaves are woolly upper side and the phyllaries are ;light brown with dark tips. .

Omalotheca (Gnaphalium) sylvaticum - Heath Cudweed This perennial is less common and taller (8-60cm) than G. uliginosum and the leaves are green on the upper side. They are woolly below and reduce in size up the stem. The phyllaries are green in the centre with a brownish scarious border.

Logfia minima Small Cudweed is a small annual to 25cm, but often much smaller. It has hairy leaves and stems, The leaves do not overtop the inflorescence of 2-8 flowerhead surrounded by brown phyllaries. It is found on the bases of wind turbines and similar gravelly or bare sandy areas.

Laphangium luteoalbum Jersey Cudweed This annual is becoming more frequent in waste areas and bare sandy areas and is certainly not very rare as described in Stace. It is covered in whitish wooly hairs and tall, to 50cm. It has a leafless terminal inflorescence with yellowish-white phyllaries with scarious borders in several rows.