AGROSTEMMA GITHARGO subsp. GITHARGO

Family and Genus:- See- CARYOPHYLLACEAE

Common Name:- Corncockle

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Agrostemma (Gr) Field-garland.

Githargo (L) From the generic name, gith (nigella) referring to a

resemblance in the seeds.

General description:- Medium to tall erect annual, covered with long, close-lying

greyish hairs.

Stems:-

1) 30-100 cm.

Leaves:-

1) 45-145 mm long. opposite, linear to lanceolate, held nearly erect against the

stem. pale green.

Flowers:-

1) 30-50 mm.solitary. with 5 long leaflike sepals, much longer than the un-notched

petals, borne on slender hairy stalks, scentless, deep, rather dull, purple.

2) Petals, each bearing 2-3 discontinuous black lines.

3) Calyx, 3-7 cm. the ovoid or oblong tube usually much shorter than the teeth that

often fall early.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, splitting open to release the seeds. Usually with 5 teeth.

2) Seeds, mostly 3 mm or more, with prominent, acute tubercles.

Key features:-

1) Capsule-teeth, as many as the styles, entire.

2) Calyx-teeth, leaf-like, longer than the tube.

4) Petals, shorter than the calyx.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Arable land, especially wheat fields.

Distribution:- Once widespread, but is probably only native in the E Mediterranean.

On Crete it is fairly rare, known only from a few isolated locations where traditional

agricultural practices are still employed.

Flowering time:- May-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton