About Melampyrum nemorosum L.
Wood cow-wheat, scientifically known as Melampyrum nemorosum L., is an herbaceous flowering plant that belongs to the Orobanchaceae family. This species is native to Europe. It has different common names across regions: in Sweden it is called natt och dag, which translates to Night and Day, while in Russia it is known as Ivan-da-Marya, meaning Ivan and Maria. This Russian name is a Christian adaptation of the older traditional Slavic name Kupalo-da-Mavka, meaning Kupalo and Mavka. Wood cow-wheat is an annual plant. Its new leaves are blue, and change to green as they reach full maturity. Most mature leaves have toothed edges at their base. This plant acts as a host for two rust fungi: Coleosporium melampyri and Cronartium flaccidum, and it supports the associated uredium and telium structures of these fungi.
