vs Common corncockle

Comatricha longipila compared with Agrostemma githago

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while Common corncockle is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Common corncockle
Kingdom	Protozoa (protozoa)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Mycetozoa	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Myxomycetes (Myxomycetes)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Stemonitidales	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Stemonitidaceae	Caryophyllaceae
Genus	Comatricha	Agrostemma
Species	Comatricha longipila	Agrostemma githago

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

<em>Comatricha longipila</em> is a myxomycete in the order Stemonitidales, class Myxomycetes, belonging to the species-rich genus <em>Comatricha</em>. The species name reflects a taxonomic characteristic used in its identification, as capillitial and spore features are the primary diagnostic traits for distinguishing species within this genus. <em>C. longipila</em> inhabits decaying woody substrates and moist organic debris in forested and shaded environments. It passes through a conspicuous plasmodial stage in which a macroscopic, multinucleate mass of cytoplasm moves across and through substrates in search of bacterial and fungal food sources. The species subsequently forms fruiting bodies that release spores for aerial dispersal. Like all myxomycetes, this organism does not possess conventional physical traits such as body length or mass, and no quantitative biological data are recorded for this species. It has not been assessed by the IUCN.

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 3 countries:

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden