Ontario Weeds: Purple cockle
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Excerpt from Publication 505, Ontario Weeds,
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Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Leaves
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Similar Species
- Caution
- Related Links
Name: Purple cockle, Agrostemma githago
L.,
Other Names: Corn cockle, nielle, nielle
des blés, nielle des champs
Family: Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae)
General Description: Annual or sometimes
biennial, reproducing only by seed.
Purple cockle.
Stems & Roots: Stems - erect,
30-120cm (1-4ft.) high, hairy, with swollen nodes;
Leaves: Opposite (2 per node), stalkless,
linear to lance shaped, 5-13cm (2-5in.) long, narrow and silky hairy;
Flowers & Fruit: Flowers large,
showy purple or purplish-red on long stalks, the 5 green sepals
united for 1/3 to ½ their length forming a calyx tube 12-18mm
(½-¾in.) long; the calyx lobes (sepal tips) 2-4cm
(4/5-1½in.) long, narrow and projecting between and past
the petals; petals 5, large, spreading, purple or purplish-red with
black spots; as the seedpod expands inside the calyx tube, it emphasizes
the 10 prominent, hairy green, lengthwise ribs on the calyx tube;
the mature seedpod inside the calyx being smooth, hairless and orange-brown,
and opening with 4 or usually 5 teeth at the top; seeds purplish-black,
rounded-angular, about 3mm (1/8in.) across and densely covered with
tiny, sharp bumps. Flowers from June to September.
Habitat: Purple cockle was a very
common weed in southern Ontario in the days of horse-drawn farm
implements but, with the change in farming techniques, it has largely
disappeared. However, it still occurs sporadically in cultivated
fields, especially in fall-sown crops such as wheat and rye, in
the central and western parts of southern Ontario.
Similar Species: It is distinguished by
its silky hairy stems with opposite, long, narrow leaves, large
purple flowers and large purplish-black seeds.
Caution: Though rare, it is important
because its seeds are poisonous to livestock and fowl so it should
be eliminated from feed grain.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA
Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA
Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
For more information:
Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300
E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca