corn cockle
ExplorePlants
corn cockle
Agrostemma githago
Corn cockle is a pretty flower that grows in fields and meadows. It has bright pink petals and can attract butterflies and bees, making it a lovely sight in nature.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The corn cockle has tall, slender stems topped with vibrant deep pink to purple, funnel-shaped flowers. Each flower displays five broad, notched petals, often with distinctive long, pointed sepals extending beyond them. Its leaves are narrow, grey-green, and slightly hairy.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderCaryophyllalesFamilyCaryophyllaceaeGenusAgrostemma
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Snaps
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Interesting facts
A single corn cockle plant can produce hundreds of seeds in one season!
Corn cockle was once a super common weed in grain fields worldwide!
Its bitter seeds actually warn animals not to eat them!
This plant's name comes from its old habit of growing in 'corn' (grain) fields.
Special abilities
Ability
Toxin Shield
Corn cockle has toxic seeds containing githagin that helps it defend against being eaten by hungry herbivores.
Ability
Dusty Traveler
Its robust seeds can remain viable in soil for many years, helping it survive until good growing conditions return.
Ability
Flower Beacon
The corn cockle's striking pink-purple flowers act like a beacon, helping to attract busy pollinating insects.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-100 cm
- Spread
- 15-30 cm
- Flower Size
- 3-5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to mid-summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- High
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honey bee
Apis mellifera
gathers nectar and pollen
pollinates
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Bombus terrestris
visits showy flowers for nectar
eats
Lychnis moth
Hadena bicruris
larvae feed on the plant
Traits
Flowering
Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
Biennial
Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Poisonous
Poisonous organisms produce toxins that can cause harm when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through contact.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
3/5 · Moderate
Don't eat any flowers or seeds you find in nature, just enjoy looking at them!
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is corn cockle?
30-100 cm
How wide does corn cockle spread?
15-30 cm
How big are the flowers on corn cockle?
3-5 cm
When does corn cockle bloom?
Late spring to mid-summer
Is corn cockle edible?
No
Is corn cockle toxic?
High
What is corn cockle's lifecycle?
Annual
How is corn cockle pollinated?
Insect
Snap Map
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