Agrostemma githago L.

Common Corncockle; Purple Cockle; Corn Campion

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Common Corncockle is an introduced annual in the Pink family (Caryophyllaceae). It is native to Eurasia. In Alabama it has been found at a few scattered locations across the state. Common Corncockle grows on roadsides, in fields, and along railroad tracks. It is an annual with a tap root. Plant grow up to 3 feet in height. The stems are pubescent with long spreading hairs. Stems can be simple or branched several times. Leaves are opposite, sessile, lanceolate in outline, and entire. The bases of the leaves somewhat clasp the stem. Flowers are solitary on long pedicels from the axils of the leaves. The sepals are linear lanceolate, spreading pubescent, and longer than the petals. There are five pinkish purple petals with a white/pink ring near the center of the flower. The petals have spots of dark blue along some of the major veins. The fruit is a capsule. Common Corncockle has become rare in recent years, but in its native range and in the United States. It was once common in cultivated fields where its seed were a common contaminant in grains. The use of herbicides and mechanical screening of grain has more of less eliminated this species from the flora. The species was thought to be extinct in the United Kingdom until 2014 when a single plant was found growing near a historic lighthouse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2693783/Deadly-British-plant-thought-extinct-discovered-lighthouse-Public-warned-not-touch-corn-cockle-kill.html#ixzz3Ybl3S48J). Common Corncockle is sometimes available in the form of seed. The seed should be planted in the autumn in a loose, loamy soil in full sun. All parts of the plants are toxic if consumed.--A. Diamond

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Not Native

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