Genus Melampyrum L.
Род 718 (22). ГАЙТАНИКА — MELAMPYRUM L.¹
L., Sp. Pl. ed. 1 (1753) 605; Gen. Pl. ed. 5 (1754) 264
Fam: Scrophulariaceae Juss.
Genus: Melampyrum L.
English Name: Cow wheatDescription: Annual herbaceous semi-parasitic plants with poorly developed roots with haustoria. Stem erect, often unclear quadrangular, simple or branched, glabrous or simply fibrous. Leaves opposite to almost opposite, entire or uppermost at the base with several teeth or shares on the side. Flowers single in the axils of leaf-like bracts, forming apical spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences. Calyx tubular or tubular bell-shaped, at the top with 4 often unequal teeth. Corolla bilabial, with a long tube extending to the tip; upper lip slightly flattened on the side, usually helmet-shaped, incised in the middle in front and with an upward curved edge; lower 3-part.Stamens 4, two-strong, attached to the upper part of the gingival tube; anthers close, almost vertical, two-nested, fibrous at the stitches, at the base with short conically pointed appendages. Ovary upper, bilobed, gradually narrowed towards the apex; the style is long; stigma head. The fruit is ovoid or elliptically ovoid, two-nested, pointed box. Seeds 1 - 2 in a nest with a seedling. Insect pollinated plants; propagated by seeds.
Note.
1. Intercalary are the leaves located between the uppermost pair of branches and the lowest bracts;
2. Species of the genus Melampyrum are characterized by a special type of variability, determined by the time of seed germination and up to flowering. As a result, varieties known as ecological races or ecotypes are evolving. To characterize the individual ecotypes it is necessary to take into account the following features: the length and number of internodes; the length, number and nature of the branches (sterile or flowering); the number of intercalary leaves and the presence or absence of cotyledons during flowering. Thus, the following ecotypes have been identified for the species (Soó et Webb, op. P. 253):a. Autumn. Internodes numerous, shorter than the leaves. The branches are numerous directed to the side or arched upwards. The intercalary leaves are numerous. It blooms in summer. It is found in forest meadows and bushes.
b. Summer. Internodes elongated. The branches 1 - 2 pairs, short, erect, non-flowering. Intercalary leaves are missing. Cotyledons are not deciduous (preserved during flowering). It blooms in summer. It is found in meadows and pastures.
c. Mountain The internodes are numerous, relatively long. Branches 1 - 2 pairs, more or less erect, flowering. Intercalary leaves 0 - 2 pairs. The leaves are usually fleshy. It blooms in summer. It is found in mountain meadows.
d. Weeds-type. Close to the mountain. It differs in the short internodes and 1 pair of intercalary leaves. It blooms in summer. It is found in crops.
Table for determination of the species
1 Inflorescence dense four-walled class; bracts folded longitudinally, in the lower part strongly dilated and ciliated on the edge,
with 10 - 20 teeth on the side; the lower teeth of the calyx 2 (3) times shorter than the upper ones ............ 1. - M. cristatum L.
1* The inflorescence is not four-walled; bracts flat, entire or with 1 - 10 teeth on the side ....... 2
2 Inflorescence cylindrical class; bracts deeply serrated; all or only the upper pink or purple, rarely pale green to almost whitish ................................................................................................................................................ 2. Polish braid - M. arvense L.
2* Inflorescence one-sided; bracts entire or toothed, green or only the upper bluish or purple .................................................. 3
3 Calyx on veins with hairs longer than 0.5 mm; upper bracts purple or bluish, lower green .................................................... 4
3* Calyx naked or with short, barely noticeable hairs; bracts green .......................................................................................... 5
4 Corolla yellow, 10 - 12 (17) mm long, corolla slightly longer than calyx. Bracts lanceolate ............. 4. - M. scardicum Wettst.
4* Corolla golden yellow, 18 - 24 mm long, corolla tube twice as long as the calyx. Bracts ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovate ...... …….....................................................................................................................................……...... 3. - M. bihariense Kern.
5 Corolla 6 - 1 mm long, open, with a curved tube, equal to or longer than the calyx ............................... 6. - M. sylvaticum L.
5* Corolla 10 - 18 (20) mm long, more or less closed, with a straight tube equal in length to the calyx ........... 5. - M. pratense L.¹ Developed by D. Delipavlov
From: „Флора на Република България”, том X, Академично издателство „Проф. Марин Дринов”, Б А Н, София, (1995) * * * * *
Melampyrum is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obtaining water and nutrients from host plants, though they are able to survive on their own without parasitising other plants.[1]
Melampyrum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the mouse moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis).
Melampyrum is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae known commonly as cow wheat. They are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. They are hemiparasites on other plants, obtaining water and nutrients from host plants, though they are able to survive on their own without parasitising other plants.[1]
Melampyrum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the mouse moth (Amphipyra tragopoginis).
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
* * * * *
Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc. Distribution: References: „Флора на Република България”, том X, Академично издателство „Проф. Марин Дринов”, Б А Н, София, (1995), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SPECIES:
Melampyrum arvense L. - Field cow wheat
Melampyrum pratense L. - Common cow-wheat
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