| Melampyrum nemorosum | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Melampyrum |
| Species: | M. nemorosum |
| Binomial name | |
| Melampyrum nemorosum | |
Wood cow-wheat [1] (Melampyrum nemorosum) is an herbaceous flowering plant in the family Orobanchaceae. It is native to Europe. In Sweden it is called natt och dag (Night and Day). [2] In Russia it is called Ivan-da-Marya ( Ivan and Maria ), a Christianisation of the traditional Slavic Kupalo-da-Mavka (Kupalo-and-Mavka).
This is an annual plant. The new leaves are blue, turning green as they mature. They are usually toothed at the bases.
This plant is a host to the rust fungus Coleosporium melampyri [3] und Cronartium flaccidum with the associated uredium and telium. [4]
Flower
Flowers in yellow and red contrast the purple top leaves
