Melampyrum lineare
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mel-am-PY-rum lin-AIR-ee
- Description
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Cow-wheat (Melampyrum lineare) is a low, branching, annual wildflower in the broom-rape family that produces small, tubular, white and yellow flowers that resemble a snake's head. It grows on well-drained sites, often under pine trees and prefers dry to moist woods, bogs, and rocky barrens. It is native to Canada and the northern and eastern states of the United States. The genus name is from the Greek for "black" and "wheat" and refers to the black seeds found in some species.
Cow-wheat grows best in dry soils in partial shade.
Cow-wheat is considered hemiparasitic that is, a partial root-parasite of pines, other trees, and low-bush blueberry. It uses specialized root structures to invade the roots of its host and steal nutrients.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Melampyrum
- Species:
- lineare
- Family:
- Orobanchaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Canada to Northern and Eastern United States.
- Distribution:
- Dry to moist woods, bogs, and rocky barrens in Canada and the United States from New England to Georgia and west to Washington state.
- Wildlife Value:
- Bumblebees visit the flowers for nectar or pollen, while the butterfly sucks nectar.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herb
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is dry and splits open when ripe.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Creamy white, two-lipped flowers, under an inch in size, on short stalks in the axils of upper leaves; upper lip is white, arched, two lobed; lower lip is three-lobed.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, linear to lanceolate-ovate; often has two to four bristled teeth at the base. It can be lobed or entire.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Rock Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
