MELAMPYRUML.COW-WHEAT

MELAMPYRUML. - COW-WHEAT

Scientific Description:

Annuals, hemiparasitic, eglandular-strigulose or almost glabrous. Leaves opposite at least in lower part of stem, simple, entire or toothed. Flowers in terminal spikes or lax racemes; bracts prominent, leaf-like, usually pinnatifid. Calyx tubular, 4-lobed and subequal, not bilabiate. Corolla bilabiate; upper lip laterally compressed, bifid; lower lip 3-lobed, shorter than upper. Stamens 4; anthers glabrous or hairy, mucronate. Capsule oblong-ovate; seeds few, ovoid, smooth.

Reference:

Hedge IC (1978). Melampyrum L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 6: 755.

Public Description:

Melampyrum, is a genus of annual hemiparasitic herbs, commonly known as “cow-wheat”, and is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. There are 13 species in the world and 3 species (5 taxa) in Türkiye. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obtaining water and nutrients from host plants, though they are able to survive on their own without parasitising other plants.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melampyrum/,Accessed date: 17.09.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016) http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Orobanchaceae/Melampyrum// /,Accessed date: 17.09.2016

Güner E D (2012) Melampyrum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 653.