Agrostemma githago var. githago
Corn-cockle
(c) Tatyana Sova, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tatyana Sova · licence
Family: Caryophyllaceae · Type: Annual · Not Native
Agrostemma githago var. githago (Corn-cockle) is a non-native California annual in the Caryophyllaceae family, recognized by European grain weed genus with declining populations due to agricultural changes.
Corn-cockle is a naturalized annual found in northern Sierra Nevada, Santa Clara Valley, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern California coastal regions in disturbed areas at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces striking purple-red flowers with obovate petals extending 10 to 20 millimeters beyond the green sepals. Growing 30 to 90 centimeters tall with dense, long, silky hairs that are somewhat appressed, the plant has a simple or sparingly branched stem. Its leaves reach 5 to 15 centimeters long, with an inflorescence that remains leafy throughout its growth. The seeds are widely ovate, measuring 3 to 3.5 millimeters with thin, triangular surface tubercles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: European grain weed genus with declining populations due to agricultural changes
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1000 m
Outside California: to Washington, Montana, eastern North America, native to southern Europe
Bloom period
Agrostemma githago var. githago blooms Spring-summer.
How to tell it apart
vs Clarkia: Agrostemma has tubular flowers with extremely long sepals; Clarkia has 4-petaled flowers with short sepals and inferior ovaries.; vs Silene: Agrostemma has sepals much longer than the flower tube; Silene has sepals equal to or shorter than tube.; vs Lychnis: Agrostemma has sepals far exceeding petals with appressed hairs; Lychnis has sepals not exceeding petals with spreading sticky hairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Agrostemma githago var. githago native to California?
No. Agrostemma githago var. githago is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Agrostemma githago var. githago bloom?
Agrostemma githago var. githago blooms Spring-summer.
What plant family does Agrostemma githago var. githago belong to?
Agrostemma githago var. githago is in the Caryophyllaceae family, genus Agrostemma.
What habitat does Agrostemma githago var. githago grow in?
Agrostemma githago var. githago grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-09
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.