Eggarton Cottages, Eggarton Lane, Godmersham, Kent, CT4 7DY
Tel/Fax: 01227 730242
True wild form of this hardy annual. A plant growing 2 � 3 ft high (60 � 92 cm) with narrow hairy leaves and large, pretty mauve, five-petalled flowers from June to August which close at night. Typical cottage garden plant.
Agrostemma comes from the Greek �agros� meaning field, and �stemma� meaning wreath. It was traditionally used in harvet festival wreaths.
Although it was once common in crop fields, it is now rare in the wild � its poisonous seeds used to contaminate flour, necessitating its eradication from its natural habitat. Its main poison is saponin glycoside githagin, which is in the ripe seeds. Symptoms of poisoning include stomach pain and diarrhoea leading to cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. It is now used in homeopathic medicine.
Girls in Hereford would take part in cornshowing, weeding Corncockles from the wheat. She who pulled the first or most got the biggest slice of cake at the feast afterwards.
Best in full sun.
CAUTION � HARMFUL IF EATEN