Field cow-wheat (Melampyrum arvense) is an herbaceous flowering plant of the genus Melampyrum in the family Orobanchaceae. It has a conspicuous spike of pink or purple terminal bracts which includes the flowers.This species is hemiparasitic, commonly on the roots of grasses but also on those of other plants and cannot flourish without a host fro supply nutrients. M. arvense is an annual weed of arable fields as well as a component of some natural grassy meadow ecosystems. The seeds are poisonous because they hold aucubin. Sibillini, Umbria, Italy May 2017