Asian cow-wheat
Melampyrum roseum
Family: Orobanchaceae
What it is like
An annual herb. It has many branches. It grows 30-60 cm high. The leaves are narrowly sword shaped and 2-8 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They taper to the tip. The flowers are red-purple. They are in loose groups at the ends of branches. These are 2-10 cm long. The fruit are oval capsules. These are 10-13 mm long. There are 2-4 seeds.
Also put in the family Scrophulariaceae.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in north western China. It grows in thickets in slopes and among tall grasses below 1,500 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Russia
How it is used for food
The roots are used for tea.
Edible parts
Root - tea
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Shan luo huo