Awl Aster vs Common corncockle

Symphyotrichum pilosum compared with Agrostemma githago

Key Differences

• Awl Aster is Not Evaluated while Common corncockle is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Awl Aster	Common corncockle
Kingdom same	Plantae (Plants)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class same	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Caryophyllaceae
Genus	Symphyotrichum	Agrostemma
Species	Symphyotrichum pilosum	Agrostemma githago

Evolutionary Relationship

Awl Aster and Common corncockle share a common ancestor at the Class level: Magnoliopsida. (Dicots)

Conservation Status

Awl Aster

NE — Not Evaluated

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Awl Aster	Common corncockle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Awl Aster

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe (5 countries), and North America (United States).

Common corncockle

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including montane grasslands and shrublands, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho), Asia (7 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Awl Aster

The Awl Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) is a species in the genus Symphyotrichum. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions. Symphyotrichum pilosum contributes to the biodiversity of its native ecosystems.

Common corncockle

<em>Agrostemma githago</em>, commonly known as common corncockle, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Once a widespread weed of cereal crops across Europe, Asia, and beyond, this species is now Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the dramatic decline caused by modern agricultural practices, particularly improved grain cleaning and herbicide use. Corncockle is a tall, slender plant covered in silky white hairs, bearing large, solitary pink to purple flowers with distinctive dark veining. Its seeds contain toxic saponin compounds called githagins, which historically contaminated grain supplies. The species now survives primarily in wildflower conservation areas, seed banks, and traditional farmland conservation schemes. It typically grows in open, disturbed arable soils with full sun exposure. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 6 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇫🇷 France 🇯🇵 Japan 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States