''Melampyrum'' is a genus of about 20 species of

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition ...

flowering plants in the family

Orobanchaceae Orobanchaceae, the broomrapes, is a family of mostly parasitic plants of the order Lamiales, with about 90 genera and more than 2000 species. Many of these genera (e.g., '' Pedicularis'', '' Rhinanthus'', '' Striga'') were formerly included in ...

known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. 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.Kim, K. and S. Yun. (2012)
A new species of ''Melampyrum'' (Orobanchaceae) from southern Korea.
''Phytotaxa'' 42 48-50. ''Melampyrum'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. Th ...

e of some Lepidoptera species, including the mouse moth (''Amphipyra tragopoginis'').

Phylogeny

The phylogeny of the genera of Rhinantheae has been explored using molecular characters. ''Melampyrum'' appears as a distant relative of other genera of Rhinantheae. It is the sister group of two clades: (i) '' Rhynchocorys'', '' Lathraea'', and '' Rhinanthus'' ; and (ii) the core Rhinantheae containing '' Bartsia'', '' Euphrasia'', '' Tozzia'', '' Hedbergia'', '' Bellardia'', and '' Odontites''.

Taxonomy

Selected species

* ''

Melampyrum arvense ''Melampyrum arvense'', commonly known as field cow-wheat, is an herbaceous flowering plant of the genus ''Melampyrum'' in the family Orobanchaceae. It is striking because of the conspicuous spike of pink or purple terminal bracts which includes ...

'' (field cow-wheat).

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located enti ...

. * ''

Melampyrum cristatum ''Melampyrum cristatum'', also known as Crested cow-wheat is a species of flowering plant belonging to the family Orobanchaceae. Description ''M. cristatum'' is an annual herb species which reaches heights of 15-40cm. Stems are erect and red ...

'' (crested cow-wheat). Europe. * ''

Melampyrum klebelsbergianum ''Melampyrum'' is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obtai ...

''.

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an ...

. * ''

Melampyrum koreanum ''Melampyrum'' is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obtai ...

''. Asia. * ''

Melampyrum laxum ''Melampyrum'' is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obtai ...

''. Asia. * ''

Melampyrum lineare ''Melampyrum lineare'', commonly called the narrowleaf cow wheat, is an herbaceous plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to North America, where it is found in southern Canada and the northern United States, with an extension south in t ...

'' (narrowleaf cow-wheat). North America. * '' Melampyrum nemorosum'' (wood cow-wheat). Europe. * '' Melampyrum pratense'' (common cow-wheat). Europe. * ''

Melampyrum roseum ''Melampyrum'' is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obta ...

''. Asia. * ''

Melampyrum saxosum ''Melampyrum'' is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are parasite, hemiparasites on other plan ...

''. Europe. * ''

Melampyrum sylvaticum ''Melampyrum sylvaticum'', the small cow-wheat, is a plant species in the genus '' Melampyrum''. References External links Orobanchaceae Flora of Europe Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Orobanchaceae-stub ...

'' (small cow-wheat). Europe.

References

External links

Orobanchaceae genera Orobanchaceae Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Parasitic plants {{Orobanchaceae-stub