Melampyrum

Melampyrum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae, commonly known as cow-wheat. The genus comprises herbaceous plants that are native to temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and parts of North America. They are facultative hemiparasites, capable of photosynthesis but typically obtaining water and mineral nutrients from nearby plant hosts through specialized organs called haustoria.

Description aspects include slender stems, opposite leaves that are often oval and sometimes toothed, and an inflorescence consisting of dense spike-like racemes. Flowers are tubular and zygomorphic, usually ranging in color from purple to yellow, and adapted to bee pollination. The corolla forms a two-lipped tube with a conspicuous lower lip. The fruit is a dry capsule that splits to release many small seeds.

Ecology and biology: Melampyrum species rely on host plants to supplement their nutrient and water intake, though they retain photosynthetic capacity. This hemiparasitism influences plant communities, as hosts can be grasses, herbs, or other broad-leaved species depending on the local environment. These plants typically inhabit woodlands, meadows, and heathlands, often on soils where suitable hosts are available.

Selected species include Melampyrum pratense (meadow cow-wheat), Melampyrum sylvaticum (woodland cow-wheat), and Melampyrum arvense (field cow-wheat). Taxonomically, Melampyrum is placed in Orobanchaceae in modern classifications (APG system); earlier treatments sometimes placed related taxa in Scrophulariaceae. Conservation and study of Melampyrum contribute to understanding plant parasitism and pollination biology in temperate ecosystems.