| Latin Name: | Agrostemma githago |
| Common Name: | Corncockle |
| Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
| Synonyms: | Githago segetum. Lychnis githago. |
| Known Hazards: | The seed and leaves are poisonous, containing saponin-like substances[4, 19, 76]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching the seed or flour in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisible to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K]. |
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Author: L.
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| Habit: Annual |
| Habitat: A weed of cornfields, becoming very rare in the wild due to modern agricultural practises[13, 17]. |
| Height: 0.9 Width: 0.15 |
Cultivation Details:
Succeeds in most soils. Prefers a rich soil[133]. Prefers a well-drained not too fertile soil and a sunny position[200].
Plants are hardy to between -15 to -20°c[200].
Corncockle usually self-sows freely so long as there is some disturbed ground[K].
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Propagation Notes:
Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ. Germinates in 2 - 3 weeks. The seed has a short viability[134]. Eighteen month old seed germinated freely with us[K].
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