Common Broomrape
Common Broomrape on grassland
Flowerhead
Flowers showing purple 2-lobed stigmas
Close-up of flowers from below - stigmas
and glandular calyx
Side view - stigma, hairs and glands on calyx
Emerging from its clover host
Orobanche minor
Orobanchaceae
Lesser Broomrape
Late May to September
It is found mainly in the South, the Southeast and East
Anglia and is scattered elsewhere.
See the BSBI distribution map for Common Broomrape
It is found on cultivated and disturbed ground, brownfield
sites and grassland.
Common broomrape is a native, annual root parasite,
which infects a variety of plant hosts, particularly clover.
The flower spikes can grow up to 60cm, but usually
much shorter.
Individual flowers are up to 18mm across have a
papery-look and are creamy yellow, lilac veined and
glandular.
The upper lip of the corolla is entire and the lower lip,
crisped and 3 lobed.
There are 4 stamens inside the corolla tube, below
the ovary.
There is a single style with a fleshy, 2-lobed purple
stigma.
The calyx is dark red with long lanceolate hairy
and glandular lobes.
The flowering stem is dark, hairy and glandular.
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Common Broomrape on grassland
Flowerhead
Flowers showing purple 2-lobed stigmas
Close-up of flowers from below - stigmas
and glandular calyx
Side view - stigma, hairs and glands on calyx
Emerging from its clover host
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