Cockle

Cockle, or CORN-COCKLE (Githago—Agrostemma—segetum), of which one species, a caryophylaceous annual weed, is common amongst crops of grain, is a native of Europe or the west of Asia, but is now found in cereal crops in almost all parts of the world. Its tall graceful habit, and large lilac-purple flowers, make it one of the most beautiful of corn-weeds; its seeds are, however, unwholesome, especially to fowls and domestic animals, and thus the undesirableness of its presence in crops is increased. A special sieve is employed for their removal in bad cases in Germany. It is an annual plant, clothed with very long hair; with large, solitary, terminal lilac flowers. The root, stem, leaves, and seed were formerly used in medicine; the seed is still sometimes sold in Germany under the name of Black Cumin (Schwartzkümmel). The corn-cockle is a very troublesome weed in some parts of Britain, and is rare and almost unknown in others.