Melampyrum lineare, Narrowleaf Cow Wheat, is a native herbaceous plant that is inconspicuous and low growing, up to about 16". It blooms in the summer.
Flowers
The small flowers are about 0.5 inch, creamy white tubular with pale yellow tips.
Leaves
There are two types of leaves. The lower leaves are linear. The leaves just below the flowers are more lance shaped have 2-6 projections at the base of the leaves.
Plant & Growth
The plant is hemiparasitic. It is both photosynthetic and parasitic. Its roots can get nutrients from the roots of other plants.
Photos by H & M Ling, 6/22/2013, sandy areas in the pinebarrens, Helmetta and Webbs Mill area, NJ
Additional information
Additional information / online references:
The USDA website shows its distribution. It is considered rare/threatened in Indiana and Ohio: http://http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MELI2&photoID=meli2_001_avd.tif
GoBotany, New England Wildflower Society: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/melampyrum/lineare/
Minnesota Wildflowers has good descriptions for identification: https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/cow-wheat