OROBANCHE LAVANDULACEA

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Kopsia lavandulacea, Lathraea lavandulacea,

Phelipanche lavandulacea, Phelypaea lavandulacea.

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

legumes).

Lavandulacea (L) Resembling Lavandula.

Stems:-

1) 15-60 x 0·4-0·7 cm, swollen at the base, simple or branched, glandular-

pubescent.

Leaves:-

1) 7-12 mm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, (6-)12-30 cm, lax or dense, glandular-hairy.

2) Bracts, 7-10(-12) mm, ovate-lanceolate;

a) bracteoles, linear-lanceolate, slightly shorter than the calyx.

3) Calyx, 6-8 mm, usually blue;

a) teeth, equalling or slightly longer than the tube, triangular with a subulate

apex.

4) Corolla, 16-22 mm, glandular-hairy, suberect at the base, patent and narrowly

campanulate, distally with strongly divergent lips, white at the base, bright blue

distally.

a) lower lip, lobes, suborbicular, denticulate.

5) Filaments, glabrous or sparsely hairy, inserted c. 6 mm above the base of the

corolla;

a) anthers hairy.

6) Stigma, white or yellowish.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule 6-7 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Mixed scrub, olive groves, roadsides. 0-500(-900) m.

Host:- Usually parasitic on Bituminaria bituminosa

Distribution:- Few records from mainland Greece. Widespread in the

Mediterranean region, canary Islands and SW Asia eastwards to Iran. Rare on

Crete known from only a few scattered locations.

Flowering time:- (Mar-)Apr-May.

Photos by:- Richard Akesson