AGROSTEMMA GITHARGO subsp. GITHARGO
Family:- CARYOPHYLLACEAE
Common Name:- Corncockle
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, long and narrow with parallel sides to lance-shaped
held nearly erect against 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.
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
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED
Achene:- A single-seeded dry fruit, not splitting.
Awn:- A stiff bristle-like projection, sometimes barbed or feathered. a fine bristle ending an organ.
Calyx:- A Collective name for the sepals - the outer whorl of organs in most flowers.
Calyx-teeth:- Tip of a calyx lobe or division.
Capsule:- Dry fruit that opens when ripe. splittin from apex to base into separate segments known as valves.
Capsule-teeth:- The one or two circles of small, pointed, toothlike appendages around the opening of a capsule.
Sepal:- A member of the outer perianth whorl in most flowers. The sepals collectively make up the calyx.
Tubercle:- A small rounded projection or protuberance, especially on a bone or on the surface of an animal or plant.
Achene:- A single-seeded dry fruit, not splitting.
Awn:- A stiff bristle-like projection, sometimes barbed or feathered. a fine bristle ending an organ.
Calyx:- A Collective name for the sepals - the outer whorl of organs in most flowers.
Calyx-teeth:- Tip of a calyx lobe or division.
Capsule:- Dry fruit that opens when ripe. splittin from apex to base into separate segments known as valves.
Capsule-teeth:- The one or two circles of small, pointed, toothlike appendages around the opening of a capsule.
Sepal:- A member of the outer perianth whorl in most flowers. The sepals collectively make up the calyx.
Tubercle:- A small rounded projection or protuberance, especially on a bone or on the surface of an animal or plant.
