Lychnis githago, also known as corncockle, is a plant species. The spelling of this word can be a bit tricky at first glance. The first part, "lychnis," is pronounced /ˈlɪknɪs/ and is spelled with a y instead of an i. The second part, "githago," is pronounced /ˈɡɪθəɡoʊ/ and is spelled with a th instead of a t. Despite its complex spelling, Lychnis githago is a beautiful and fragrant plant that grows in Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia.
Lychnis githago, commonly known as corncockle, is a flowering plant belonging to the Caryophyllaceae family. It is an annual herbaceous plant that grows up to 1 meter in height. Native to Europe, Lychnis githago is characterized by its slender, erect stems and narrow, lanceolate leaves that form a basal rosette at the bottom of the plant. The leaves are green and covered with fine hairs.
The plant produces beautiful flowers that are typically pink or lilac in color. These five-petaled flowers are solitary and sit atop long stalks. Each flower has prominent, deeply divided petals that give it a fringed appearance. Blooming from late spring to early summer, the flowers attract various beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
However, Lychnis githago has also gained infamy as a weed in agricultural fields, particularly in grain crops. The plant's seeds are abundant and long-lived, leading to their persistence in the soil and potential contamination of harvested grains. Despite its attractive appearance, corncockle is considered toxic and, if consumed, can cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
Due to its invasiveness and potential harm to crops, efforts are made to control the spread of Lychnis githago in agricultural settings. Nevertheless, in the wild or garden settings, the plant can be appreciated for its aesthetic value, adding color and charm to various landscape designs.
Agrostmmagithago, corn-cockle, the seeds of which are said to produce githagism when eaten.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Lychnis githago" has its etymology rooted in Greek and Latin.
The genus name "Lychnis" is derived from the Greek word "lychnos", meaning lamp or light, referring to the bright color of the flowers in this genus.
The specific epithet "githago" originates from the Latin term "githāgō", which was the Romans' name for a plant resembling the Lychnis githago. The origin of the Latin term itself is not entirely clear, but it is believed to come from a Greek word, possibly "gazos", meaning to graze. This is because the plants in this genus were considered to be harmful to grazing animals, and the word "githāgō" could have been derived from "gadzein", meaning to feed or eat.