Gewöhnliche Kornrade vs Rat tail grass

Agrostemma githago compared with Sporobolus elongatus

Key Differences

• Gewöhnliche Kornrade is Critically Endangered while Rat tail grass is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gewöhnliche Kornrade	Rat tail grass
Kingdom same	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum same	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Caryophyllales (Nelkenartige)	Poales (Süßgrasartige)
Family	Caryophyllaceae	Poaceae (Grass Family)
Genus	Agrostemma	Sporobolus
Species	Agrostemma githago	Sporobolus elongatus

Evolutionary Relationship

Gewöhnliche Kornrade and Rat tail grass share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Magnoliophyta. (Flowering Plants)

Conservation Status

Gewöhnliche Kornrade

CR — Critically Endangered

Rat tail grass

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gewöhnliche Kornrade	Rat tail grass
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gewöhnliche Kornrade

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.

Rat tail grass

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu).

Gewöhnliche Kornrade

<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 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇫🇷 France 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States