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Melampyrum lineare

American Cow-wheat · Linear Cow-wheat · Narrowleaf Cowwheat

Family OrobanchaceaeGenus Melampyrum

Small white and yellow two-lipped flowers tucked among narrow green leaves and bracts
FlowerUnknown authorUnknown authorPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Herb, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
hemiparasitic annualPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1.3 ft15-40 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-3 ft30-90 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Cream/Tan, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 states, St. Pierre and MiquelonPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

  • Narrowleaf cow wheat is hemiparasitic: it makes its own food by photosynthesis but also draws on the roots of other plants. Wikipedia: Melampyrum lineare

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 10, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 56 days.

55% germination in 28–56 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Melampyrum p. 177Public domain
Show the original text
Melampyrum (Scrophulariaceae). M. lineare germ. 70-40(55% in 4-8 w) and 40-70(10%)-40(20%)-70. In outdoor treatment seeds started germinating in February, but they were killed by low temperatures. All DS seed .was dead. Light did not initiate germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Melampyrum p. 177. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

    10 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C Light: either

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

20% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Melampyrum p. 177Public domain
Show the original text
Melampyrum (Scrophulariaceae). M. lineare germ. 70-40(55% in 4-8 w) and 40-70(10%)-40(20%)-70. In outdoor treatment seeds started germinating in February, but they were killed by low temperatures. All DS seed .was dead. Light did not initiate germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Melampyrum p. 177. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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