OROBANCHE HEDERAE

Family and Genus:- See- OROBANCHACEAE/Sect. OROBANCHE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Orobanche balearica, Orobanche glaberrima,

Orobanche laurina, Orobanche salisii.

Meaning:- Orobanche (Gr) Legume-strangler. (one species is parasitic on

legumes).

Hederae (L) Of ivy.

Stems:-

1) 15-60 x 0·3-0·8 cm, usually strongly swollen at the base, glandular-

pubescent, yellow to reddish-purple.

Leaves:-

1) Upper, 12-30 mm, rather broadly lanceolate, glandular-pubescent

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, cylindrical, lax.

2) Bracts, lanceolate, equalling or exceeding the flower.

3) Calyx segments, entire or unequally bidentate, l/2-2/3 as long as the corolla,

dark red or brown, densely glandular-pubescent.

4) Corolla, 10-22 mm, tubular, regularly curved or almost straight in the middle,

expanded above the insertion of the stamens, constricted below the lower lip,

light yellow to yellowish-brown with reddish-violet veins, the back often tinged

violet or red, glandular-pubescent outside.

a) upper lip, entire or emarginate. All lobes usually porrect, irregularly dentate.

5) Stamens, inserted 3-4 mm above the base of the corolla tube, pubescent below,

glabrous above.

6) Stigma, yellow or orange.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 10-12 mm.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, tubular, constricted just below lower lip, variously coloured but not dark

shining red inside .

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Natural habitats, gorges, deciduous woodland and frequently by churches

and cemeteries. (0-)200-1100 m.

Host:- Hedera helix, sometimes gregarious in shady places.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. W & C Europe, NW Africa, though

Anatolia to N Iran. Rare on Crete, known from only a few locations.

Flowering time:- Late Apr to mid-July.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton