About Melampyrum lineare Desr.
Melampyrum lineare Desr., commonly known as narrowleaf cow wheat, is an herbaceous flowering plant in the Orobanchaceae family. It is native to North America, with a distribution spanning southern Canada and the northern United States, and extends southward along the Appalachian Mountains. It has broad tolerance for different habitat conditions, and most often grows in drier, somewhat exposed woodlands. This species is hemiparasitic, meaning it obtains energy from both photosynthesis and root parasitism on other plants. It is a low-growing herbaceous plant that forms clumps reaching approximately 12 inches in height. Its leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem, and vary in shape from lanceolate to linear. It produces tubular, cream-colored flowers during the summer months.
