corn cockle
Definition
Noun: * A European annual plant (Agrostemma githago) with large, showy, reddish-purple flowers and poisonous seeds. It is a common weed found in grain fields and along roadsides, and has become naturalized in North America.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The vibrant red flowers of the corn cockle stood out among the golden wheat.
- Farmers work to control corn cockle because its seeds are toxic if mixed with harvested grain.
- A patch of corn cockle grew along the edge of the country lane.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The corn cockle was once a very common contaminant in wheat fields. Its seeds are poisonous and, if ground into flour, can cause a condition called githagism. Modern farming methods have greatly reduced its prevalence.
- In historical accounts, corn cockle poisoning was a noted risk from contaminated bread.
Variants and Related Words
- Common Names: Corn cockle is also known as corn campion, corn rose, or purple cockle.
- Scientific Name: .
- Cockle (noun): A general term for various plants, often weeds, of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), which includes the corn cockle.
Synonyms
- Weed: A wild plant growing where it is not wanted.
- Noxious weed: A weed that is harmful to crops, ecosystems, or livestock.
Noun
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European annual having large trumpet-shaped reddish-purple flowers and poisonous seed; a common weed in grainfields and beside roadways; naturalized in America
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