ムギセンノウは「麦撫子」とも呼ばれ、園芸名は「アグロステンマ」が一般的。夏の瑞々しい微風に、しなやかな花茎を優しくなびかせます。
Japanese name of Corn Cockle means “Wheat Campion” and “Wheat Dianthus”, but “Agrostemma” is more common in Japanese horticulture. The flexible flower stalks sway in the refreshing summer breeze.
【仮名】ムギセンノウ, ムギナデシコ, アグロステンマ
【和名】麦仙翁, 麦撫子
【英名】Corn Cockle, Agrostemma
【学名】Agrostemma githago
【誕生】04/ 04, 07/ 03
【開花】04, 05, 06月
【花色】White, Pink, Purple
ムギセンノウ
ムギセンノウの概要
ムギセンノウはナデシコ科の１年草です。原産地は欧州で、麦栽培の雑草として世界中に広がり、日本へも明治時代に渡来。種子に毒性のあるサポニンが含まれるため、収穫した麦に紛れると嘔吐や下痢を引き起こす一方、夏の瑞々しい微風に、しなやかな花茎を優しくなびかせます。
ムギセンノウの名前
ムギセンノウの和名の由来は、葉が「麦」に似ている麦畑の雑草で、花が同じナデシコ科の「仙翁」に似ているから。「麦撫子」とも呼ばれます。一方、園芸名では「アグロステンマ」が一般的。これはラテン語の属名で、「野原の花冠」という意味です。種小名のギタゴは由来不明。
ムギセンノウの姿形
ムギセンノウの茎はスラリと直立し、上部で分岐。葉は細長い線形で互生します。萼は固く細長い筒状で５裂。茎と葉と萼は毛が密生します。花は花弁が重なりながら５枚。真ん中が薄桃色、周りが濃桃色で、縦に筋が入ります。花後は蒴果を結び、熟すと裂けて、黒色の種子を散布。
ムギセンノウの利用
ムギセンノウの園芸品種「桜貝」は花が薄桃色、「オーシャン・パール」は花が白色、「パープルクイーン」は花が赤紫色。花が桃色の原種も含め、花色を組み合わせて植えると、夏のお庭を朗らかに彩ります。一方、麦畑に蔓延ると駆除が難しい強害雑草。毀誉褒貶のあるお花です。
Corn Cockle
Overview of Corn Cockle
Corn Cockle is an annual plant of the caryophyllaceae family. Originating in Europe, it spread all over the world as a weed of wheat cultivation, and was introduced to Japan in the Meiji era. The seeds contain toxic saponins, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea if mixed with harvested wheat. On the other hand, the flexible flower stalks sway in the refreshing summer breeze.
Name of Corn Cockle
Japanese name of Corn Cockle means “Wheat Campion”, because it is a wheat field weed with leaves resembling “wheat” and flowers resembling “Campion” of the Caryophyllaceae family. It is also called “Wheat Dianthus” in Japan. But “Agrostemma” is more common in Japanese horticulture. This is the Latin genus name, meaning “corolla of the field”. On the other hand, the origin of the species name Githago is unknown.
Appearance of Corn Cockle
The stalks of Corn Cockle stand straight and branch at the top. The leaves are long and linear and alternate. The calyx is hard, elongated and cylindrical, and 5-lobed. Stems, leaves and sepals are densely hairy. The flowers have 5 petals overlapping each other. Light pink in the middle and dark pink around the edges, with vertical streaks. After flowering, it forms a capsule, splits when ripe, and scatters black seeds.
Use of Corn Cockle
The cultivar of Corn Cockle “Cherry Shell” has light pink flowers, “Ocean Pearl” has white flowers, and “Purple Queen” has purple flowers. If you plant a combination of flower colors, including the original species with pink flowers, you can brighten up your summer garden. On the other hand, it is a harmful weed that is difficult to eradicate once it spreads over wheat fields. It is a flower with praise and censure.
