Corncockle
Agrostemma githago

Family: Caryophyllaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows about 1 m high and spreads about 40-100 cm wide. There is a shallow taproot. The stem is slender, hairy and with few branches. The leaves are in opposite pairs. They are narrow and 12 cm long. They are covered with fine white silky hairs. Leaves are grey-green. The flowers are dull purple. They occur singly on long stalks in the axils of leaves. The flowers have 5 petals. These are 2.5-6 cm wide and have distinct veins. The sepals are long narrow and green. The fruit is a large oval capsule containing seeds.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is drought and frost resistant. It adapts to most soils. It will grow best in soils that are not too fertile but are well drained and in a sunny position. Plants are hardy to -15°C. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Australia, Balkans, Britain (country/location of origin), Bulgaria, Central Asia, Chile, China, Europe, France, Germany, Haiti, India, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Netherlands, North America, Slovenia, South America, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, West Indies

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The seeds are very poisonous. It contains githagin (agrostemine). The leaves are cooked and eaten as an emergency food. Because the plant contains saponins which although poisonous are poorly absorbed by the body, they should not be eaten in large amounts. The leaves are cooked with vinegar and bacon.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Leaves, caution

How it is grown

The plant grows from seed. They self seed easily. The seed usually germinates in 2-3 weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Buğday karamuğu, Jerva de scitte, Kaklitsa, Navadni kokalj

Synonyms

Agrostemma githago var. linicolum (Terech.) K. Hammer; Agrostemma githago var. macrospermum (Levina) K. Hammer; Agrostemma hirsutum Stokes; Agrostemma infesta Salisb.; Agrostemma linicola Terech.; Agrostemma macrospermum Levina; Agrostemma nicaeense Roth; Githago nicaeensis (Roth) Link; Githago segetalis St. Lag.; Githago segetum Link; Lychnis agrostemma Ledeb.; Lychnis githago (L.) Scop.; Lychnis nicaeensis (Roth) G. Don; Lychnis segetalis St. Lager; Lychnis segetum Lam.; Silene githago (L.) E. H. L. Krause;