Field Cow Wheat - a rarity

[Chris J]

One of those plants that were common in wheat, barley etc fields but virtually wiped out by agricultural practices and herbicides. This Cow Wheat is a partial parasite on the field crop, drawing nutrients from it.

En masse -



50D + 24-105L, and closer up by the addition of a EF12mm extension tube (which was daft 'cos I had the 100mm Macro in my bag but didn't know it...) -



Scientific name - Melampyrum arvense (arvense meaning "of the field").

Cheers, Chris.

[DianaS]

Re: Field Cow Wheat - a rarity

That's very interesting - never seen it before. was reading an interesting article today suggesting that the future may lie i ngrowing perennial wheat which has a much better root system than annual and would be great in helping stop soil erosion and soil and fertilisers being swept into rivers and oceans. (in National Geographic - April.
Thanks for posting those.

[DeeGee]

Re: Field Cow Wheat - a rarity

Isn't it a beautiful colour and with just that little touch of yellow.