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''Melampyrum pratense'', common cow-wheat, is a plant species in the family Orobanchaceae. The seed of the plant has an elaiosome, which is attractive to wood ants (''Formica'' spp.). The ants disperse the seeds of the plant when they take them back to their nests to feed their young.〔Puplett, D. (Symbiosis. ) Trees for Life. Accessed 22 June 2013.〕 The plant is an ancient woodland indicator, as the ants rarely carry the seeds more than a few yards, seldom crossing a field to go to a new woodland. ''M. pratense'' is a food plant of the caterpillars of the heath fritillary (''Melitaea athalia''), a butterfly.〔(Heath Fritillary (''Melitaea athalia''). ) UK Butterflies. Accessed 22 June 2013.〕 ''M. pratense'' herb has been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea or externally as pillow filling for treatment of rheumatism and blood vessels calcification. ==See also== * Myrmecochory 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Melampyrum pratense」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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