In Britain this is an Archeophyte i.e. a plant introduced to Britain before 1500 AD but, as can be seen from the various locations of the photographs, it is common on the continent. The flowers are not particularly spectacular and there are many more plants with flowers in the Apiaceae family which look like this. The fruits though, are very long and needle shaped as the English name suggests, reminding you more of the various Stork's-bill fruits.

It is found throughout northern and southern Europe on the Mediterranean islands, north Africa, the near eastern countries such as Turkey and Israel and even in Scandinavia.

Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd's-needle Dried River bed, Cortijo Valverde, Andalucia, Spain 28th march 2005 Previous   Next	Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd's-needle Cabo da Gata, Almeria, Spain 20th March 2007 Previous   Next
Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd's-needle	Scandix pecten-veneris Shepherd's-needle fruits

LHS: Le Burgo river valley, Andalucia, 31st March 2008 RHS: Vuoni, Southern Cyprus, 17th April 2011

Added on January 13th 2021