Melampyrum arvense, commonly known as Field Cow-wheat, is an annual herb native to a variety of habitats including open woodlands, grasslands, and scrub areas across Europe. It typically grows up to 24 inches tall and features distinctive pink or purple bracts with small, tubular, yellow flowers that bloom in the summer. The flowers are somewhat showy due to their bracts and are pollinated by bumblebees. The plant has slender stems and lance-shaped leaves, and while it does produce seeds, they contain aucubin, making them poisonous.

Field Cow-wheat is valued in conservation for its ability to reduce grass vigor and promote biodiversity among wildflowers. It is not commonly cultivated in gardens but may be used in wildflower meadows or naturalistic plantings. It prefers dry, well-drained, calcareous (chalky) soils and thrives in full sun to partial shade. As a hemiparasitic plant, it obtains some nutrients from the roots of neighboring plants, which can be a consideration in garden design. Care should be taken to prevent accidental ingestion of the seeds due to their toxicity.CC BY-SA 4.0