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Undesirable plants growing on cultivated land are called weeds, though  weed is not a systematic scientific concept. The nature of a weed depends on the particular goals of plant cultivation. Some kinds are economically harmful, while others are disliked for aesthetic reason. Weeds compete with crop plants for light, water, and minerals. Some kinds of weeds overshadow the crop plants with their large leaves and flowers, or wind around their stalks and leaves. The seeds of corncockle ( Agrostemma githago) contain saponins; if the harvested crop was not cleaned sufficien…

1. Definition and survey Crop plants are plants grown for their usefulness to humans, whether as food or for industry (as distinct from ornamental plants; see also Garden). The concept includes plants that grow on land and in water. The most important grain plants originated in the Middle and Near East, spreading to Europe in prehistoric times [10]. From the age of mercantilism, commercial use became an important consideration (Botanic garden; Herbarium), culminating in the second half of the 18th century in Johann Beckmann's ideas on commodity economics and technology [2] …