OROBANCHE RAMOSA var. MUTELII

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

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Phelypaea ramosa

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

legumes).

Ramosa (L) Much branched, branching.

Mutelii (L) Named after French botanist Pierre August Victor Mutel

(1795-1847).

Stems:-

1) 5-30(-40) x 0·15-0·4(-0·6) cm, swollen at the base, usually branched, glandular-

pubescent.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, 3-8(-10) mm, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acute.

Flowers:-

1) Inflorescence, 2-25 cm, lax or dense, glandular-pubescent.

2) Bracts, 6-8(-10) mm, ovate-lanceolate;

a) bracteoles, linear-lanceolate, about equalling the calyx.

b) pedicels, 0-5(-8) mm.

3) Calyx, 6-8 mm.

a) teeth, acuminate, about equalling the tube.

4) Corolla, (15-)18-22 mm, glandular-pubescent, suberect and inflated at the base,

erecto-patent, infundibuliform, distally, pale to bright blue or violet;

a) lower lip, somewhat deflexed with suborbicular to elliptical, entire or with

denticulate lobes.

5) Stamens;

a) filaments, glabrous, or hairy at the base, inserted 3-6 mm above the base of

the corolla.

b) anthers, glabrous, or sparsely hairy at the base.

6) Stigma, white, cream or pale blue.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 6-7(-10) mm.

Key features:-

1) Corolla, (15-)18-22 mm, lobes of the lower lip obtuse.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Seasonally damp spots in scrub, olive groves and ruderal habitats. 0-1500

Host:- Parasitic on a wide variety of herbs.

Distribution:- Fairly widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. Widespread

across Crete.

Flowering time:- Mar-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton