Orobanche Rapum-genistae, Greater Broomrape



Common name:
Greater broomrape
Scientific name:
Orobanche rapum-genistae
Main flower color:
Range:
Scattered locations in Wales and England. Increasingly uncommon
Height:
Up to 80 cm
Habitat:
Heaths and other grassy places - a parasitic plant, on the roots of gorse and broom
Flowers:
Corollas are up to 25 m long, pinkish purple, with white hairs on the outer surface. The upper lip is untoothed, and somewhat hooded. Inside, filaments are hairless towards the base, and the stigma lobes are yellow, and not touching. Each flower is subtended by a narrow bract
Fruit:
Egg-shaped capsules, initially yellow
Leaves:
Brown scales, along the thick (over 8mm) stems
Season:
May to July
Rarity:
★★★★