Agrostemma githago L.
Agrostemma githago
Agrostemma githago, commonly known as corn-cockle, is a herbaceous annual flowering plant with stems up to 100 cm long and lanceolate leaves. The flowers are up to 5 cm in diameter, typically with five narrow sepals that exceed the petals. The plant is covered with fine hairs and has slender pink to purple flowers that are scentless, 25-50 mm across. The petals bear discontinuous black lines, and the plant produces seeds in a many-seeded capsule.
Details
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllaceae
Agrostemma
The plant contains githagin (ribosome-inactivating proteins) and saponins, which are toxic compounds.
All parts of the plant are poisonous and have been used in folk medicine despite the risk of fatal poisoning. Recent research highlights its cytotoxic effects on cancer cells, protective properties against oxidative stress, inhibition of Leishmania major culture growth, suppression of protein synthesis, and antiviral, anti-angiogenic, and cholesterol-lowering activities.
May to September in the northern hemisphere, November to March in the southern hemisphere
Typically sown as winter wheat and then harvested before any corn cockle would have flowered or set seed
Up to 100 cm
Pink to purple
Fields, roadsides, railway lines, waste places, and other disturbed areas
Info
Pannon Flora Ltd. was founded on December 13, 1999, by Gábor Janik, who retains 95% ownership. Janik holds an MSc in Horticulture from the University of Horticultural Sciences (1986) and an Advanced Professional English Certification from the College of International Trade (1990). The company specializes in bird feed production and export, primarily serving markets in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK, alongside cultivating and distributing imported/exported horticultural seeds. It maintains exclusive partnerships with JOEUN Seed (South Korea) and Takii Europe (Japan), a leader in professional seed breeding and production. Pannon Flora collaborates with certification bodies such as NÉBIH (National Food Chain Safety Office), MERT Kontroll, and SGS Hungary to ensure compliance and quality. The company works with approximately 400 Hungarian growers, ranging from small-scale producers (under 5 hectares) to mid-sized farms and large-scale agricultural enterprises. This profile emphasizes agribusiness expertise, technical partnerships, and operational scalability tailored to international client needs.
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