Field cow-wheat  (Melampyrum arvense)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

This colourful endangered plant has pale green, toothed and narrow leaves that grow on opposite sides of the stem. The flowers grow in a spike known as an inflorescence, and are generally purplish-pink in colour with a yellow throat and lip. Long, thin bracts also emerge from the flower spike; these can be green, deep pink or white in colour (4). A local name for this species is 'poverty weed' as the seeds gave a bad taste to flour and devalued the price of corn (5).

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