''Agrostemma'' is a genus of annual plants in the family

Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae, commonly called the pink family or carnation family, is a family (biology), family of flowering plants. It is included in the dicotyledon order Caryophyllales in the APG III system, alongside 33 other families, including Amaranth ...

, containing the

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

known as corncockles. Its best-known member is ''A. githago'', the

common corncockle ''Agrostemma githago'', the common corn-cockle (also written "corncockle"), is a herbaceous annual flowering plant a member of Caryophyllaceae, also called the pink family or the carnation family of plants. The name of this genus is derived from ...

, which is a native of Europe. The species is a weed of cereals and other crops, probably with a centre of origin in the eastern Mediterranean.Preston, Pearman & Dines. (2002). ''New Atlas of the British Flora''. Oxford University Press. It occurs as a weed worldwide, but is declining in its native range because of improved seed cleaning. Corncockle is an attractive plant, and its seeds are still commercially available to gardeners.

Selected species

*''Agrostemma brachyloba'' Hammer, narrow corncockle Plants of the World Online (with map)
/ref> *''

Agrostemma githago ''Agrostemma githago'', the common corn-cockle (also written "corncockle"), is a herbaceous annual flowering plant a member of Caryophyllaceae, also called the pink family or the carnation family of plants. The name of this genus is derived from ...

'' L.,

, corn-pink Plants of the World Online (with map)
/ref> (''Agrostemma gracile'' is a synonym of ''Agrostemma brachyloba'' )

References

Caryophyllaceae Caryophyllaceae genera {{Caryophyllaceae-stub