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narrow corncockle

Scientific Name: Agrostemma brachyloba

Family: Caryophyllaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Corn Cockle (Agrostemma githago)

The Corn Cockle, scientifically known as Agrostemma githago, is an annual plant with a history intertwined with agriculture and horticulture. It's a plant with a story to tell, from its past as a common weed to its present-day appeal as a wildflower.

Common Names

  • Corn Cockle (also written "corncockle" and "corn cockle")
  • Narrow Corncockle

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Agrostemma githago
  • Family: Caryophyllaceae (pinks)
  • Genus: Agrostemma L.
  • Species: Agrostemma githago
  • Synonyms: Agrostemma brachyloba (Fenzl) Hammer, Agrostemma githago subsp. thessalum (Bornm.) W. Greuter
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species, Subspecies

Considerations for Pets

  • Leaves are hairy
  • Plant can grow up to 1m+ tall

Considerations for Children

  • Leaves are hairy
  • Plant can grow up to 1m+ tall

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Mediterranean region.
  • Introduced to various parts of the world, including North America and the UK.
  • Historically found as a weed in arable land (fields used for growing crops).

Ecological Role

  • Historically, it was a common weed in commercial crops.
  • Mentioned as an arable weed from Viking times until the 20th century in Ireland.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Annual plant, typically reaching a height of up to 1 meter or more.
  • Leaves: Long, narrow, lanceolate, and softly hairy, produced in pairs. Can be up to 13cm long.
  • Flowers: Pinky purple or magenta-purple, funnel-shaped, and up to 3.5-5 cm across. Borne singly on long stems. Petals marked with 2-3 thin black lines.
  • Sepals: 5 narrow teeth, much longer than the petals, pointed, green, and hairy.
  • Stems: Slender and wiry.
  • Growth Habit: Upright, erect.

Quirky Facts

  • Corn Cockle's presence in the UK dates back to the Iron Age, suggesting a long history of association with human agriculture.
  • The viability of Corn Cockle seeds in the soil is not very long when dormant.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Mentioned in conjunction with other plants such as cornflower, dryopteris carthusiana and various vetches.

Further Information

  • RHS (Royal Horticultural Society)
  • Dave's Garden