Cow-wheat ( Melampyrum lineare ) is a low, branching, annual wildflower in the broom-rape family that produces small, tubular, white and yellow flowers that resemble a snake's head. It grows on well-drained sites, often under pine trees and prefers dry to moist woods, bogs, and rocky barrens. It is native to Canada and the northern and eastern states of the United States. The genus name is from the Greek for "black" and "wheat" and refers to the black seeds found in some species. Cow-wheat grows best in dry soils in partial shade. Cow-wheat is considered hemiparasitic that is, a partial root-parasite of pines, other trees, and low-bush blueberry. It uses specialized root structures to invade the roots of its host and steal nutrients. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Occasionally Dry
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Opposite, linear to lanceolate-ovate; often has two to four bristled teeth at the base. It can be lobed or entire.
Flower color
Cream/Tan; White
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Creamy white, two-lipped flowers, under an inch in size, on short stalks in the axils of upper leaves; upper lip is white, arched, two lobed; lower lip is three-lobed.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The fruit is dry and splits open when ripe.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Canada to Northern and Eastern United States.
Distribution
Dry to moist woods, bogs, and rocky barrens in Canada and the United States from New England to Georgia and west to Washington state.
Wildlife value
Bumblebees visit the flowers for nectar or pollen, while the butterfly sucks nectar.