Melampyrum cristatum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Melampyrum cristatum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Melampyrum |
| Species: | M. cristatum |
| Binomial name | |
| Melampyrum cristatum L. | |
Melampyrum cristatum, also known as crested cow-wheat [1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae.[2]
M. cristatum is an annual herb species which reaches heights of 15-40cm. Stems are erect and reddish green in colour. Leaves are 5-10cm long, almost stalkless and are narrowly elliptic in shape. Flowers are tubular and purple, however the lips of the flower are yellow. M. cristatum flowers from July to August. Seeds are produced inside 10mm long, flat capsules. Seeds possess soft, oily, elaiosomes, which are collected, eaten and distributed by ants.[3][4]
Distribution
M. cristatum is native to the following places: Albania, Altai, Austria, the Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Corsica, Crete, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, North Caucasus, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Siberia (western), Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey (European), Ukraine, Yugoslavia.[2]
It has also been introduced outside of its natural range into Krasnoyarsk.[2]