Narrowleaf Cowwheat
Melampyrum lineare
- Native to:
- Canada, Labrador, Prince Edward I., United States
Rob Routledge, Sault College, Canada, Bugwood.org
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Orobanchaceae
- Genus:
- Melampyrum
- Species:
- Melampyrum lineare
- USDA Symbol:
- MELI2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 50 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, yellow, purple
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Found in fire-maintained habitats such as pine barrens and oak savannas; benefits from periodic disturbance that reduces competition.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found in open woods and clearings
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Notes:
- Hemiparasitic; requires host plant roots nearby for successful establishment. Seeds may have low viability without host.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified to break epicotyl dormancy
Establishment: M. lineare is found in open forest throughout North America. No conflicting information found.
Source: npn.rngr.net