![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/4IOXyDdkA1Q0mRWX3Yn3jJ/f6e4af7045fbaced595a3001fd7568d3/fiddle_neck_01.jpg?fm=webp&w=1080&q=85)
Fiddleneck
Amsinckia micrantha
Importance
Native to North America, and member of the Borage family. Named fiddleneck as the way the flowering stem curls over the top suggests the head of a violin (see picture 4). Plants can grow to a height of 90 cms. Found in East Anglia particularly in spring sown crops such as sugar beet.
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/64tV6g4e8SuEHMeU0cfLIf/a00578bbd36b973cbaf85bf722b43644/fiddle_neck_01.jpg?fm=webp&w=1920&q=85)
1. Very distinctive bi-lobed cotyledons.
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/3iaVLqgOersS4ySSsdbzmY/4be015f498c91a2a31c89a6a2e07dde2/fiddleneck-young-plant.jpg?fm=webp&w=1920&q=85)
2. Leaves stiffly hairy, lanceolate 4–5 cms long and 1 cm wide.
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/p3IfkgB0jwgVTqGTqlfKk/ad0daf522012d795fcabd4e5d969e3a4/fiddleneck-close-up-flower.jpg?fm=webp&w=1920&q=85)
3. Small yellow flowers 2 mm wide and 3 mm in length. The flowers have 5 petals fused at the base.
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/3rAy78OmOxDFEpI4G7DeIi/d0e233be2e2c962f15788686d7d7d382/fiddleneck-individual.jpg?fm=webp&w=1920&q=85)
4. Flowering stem shaped like the head of a violin (hence 'fiddleneck').
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/2XRfM8UqP1WeZalp9YiKVd/032d5e7011079bc6dc3fa3497bbd6235/fiddleneck-dense.jpg?fm=webp&w=1920&q=85)
5. Dense population in a sugar beet crop.
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/1h0qvud54Zy9GzLekPOd5R/677728ff5c36c4492f44e69e75b97e83/FieldMate_Promo_Mobile.jpg?fm=webp&w=3840&q=85)
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/3CvKagUshwoSyxEDqRj52c/bd6e3be09e808d22cf4c4c324b6d4ac7/FieldMate_Promo_Desktop.jpg?fm=webp&w=3840&q=85)
![](https://images.ctfassets.net/l2hapltrg3cz/3CvKagUshwoSyxEDqRj52c/bd6e3be09e808d22cf4c4c324b6d4ac7/FieldMate_Promo_Desktop.jpg?fm=webp&w=3840&q=85)