White Cockle
Silene latifolia ssp. alba
Washington State Classification
Class C — Widespread, County-Selected Control
White cockle can be a serious problem in small grains, alfalfa, clover and grass seed fields.
Quick Reference
Identification
Growth Habit
It is a biennial to perennial plant that grows 1.5 to 3.5 feet tall. The plant is hairy on lower plant parts and glandular in the inflorescence.
Leaves
Basal leaves with leaf stalks (petioles), up to 3.9 inches long by 0.8 inches wide. Stem leaves opposite, reducing in size going up the stem and becoming sessile (without stalks, petioles).
Flowers
It is dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants. The fragrant flowers, which are solitary on long flower stems or in clusters, have five white or pink petals that exceed the sepals. Petals are deeply notched with tiny ears on the sides.
Fruit & Seeds
The small, rounded, rough seeds are produced in a bulb-like capsule.
Impact
White cockle can be a serious problem in small grains, alfalfa, clover and grass seed fields. Its seeds are difficult to separate from commercially produced clover or alfalfa seed. White cockle is also problematic for Washington’s timothy growers.
Ecology & Spread
Habitat
White cockle is grows in grasslands cultivated fields, roadsides, pastures, grass embankments and waste places as well as many undisturbed areas. Pleaseclick here to see a county level distribution map of white cockle in Washington.
Spread Mechanisms
Reproduction
It reproduces by seeds and short rootstocks. Since some plants only have male flowers, not all plants produce seed. However, female plants are capable of producing 1,600 to 24,000 seeds per plant.
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Control Methods
Mechanical
- Cultivation or tillage for regular seedbed preparation will kill many white cockle plants. However, well-established plants are usually not killed and tillage will promote seed germination.
Biological Control
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