Orobanche rapum-genistae Broom broomrape
Jopo
April to July
Broomrapes are often confused with orchids at first glance but they are a parasitic plant, containing no chlorophyll. They are entirely dependent on plant roots for nutrients. There are 200 species worldwide and can cause severe problems with legume crops. The seeds can lay dormant for many years. They can grow from 10~60cms tall. This plant can vary in colour from white, beige, pink, brown, blues and purples. This Broomrape is parasitic on Cytisus, Genistas etc.
This is Orobanche gracilis and not O. rapum-genistae.
ReplyDeleteThey are rather easily distinguished by their color: usually deep red in the interior of the corolla in O. gracilis vs pink in O. rapum-genistae; the indumentum of the outside of the corolla: with short glandular hairs in O. gracilis vs woolly in O. rapum-genistae and by their lower corolla lobe: denticulate and ciliate in O. gracilis vs subentire and not ciliate in O. rapum-genistae.