Günther's Site - Photos of European PlantsOrobanche and their Host Plants

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Orobanche and their Host Plants


Most Orobanche are adapted to few plant species or families on which they are cadging. In each row an Orobanche species is presented with one or two of its hosts. In the first ten rows you can find the Phelipanche which are usually colored blue or violet. Because of their additional narrow lateral bracts (bracteoles on both sides of the wider central bract) they have been separated from the actual Orobanche as an own genus Phelipanche. Phelipanche ramosa is parasite on cultivated plants as Tobacco, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Hemp, and Maize.
Phelipanche ramosa / Hemp Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Nicotiana tabacum / Virginian Tobacco Solanaceae / Nightshade Fam.	Cannabis sativa / Hemp Cannabaceae / Hop Fam.
Phelipanche mutelii / Mutel's Hemp Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Phelipanche mutelii / Mutel's Hemp Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Oxalis pes-caprae / Bermuda Buttercup Oxalidaceae / Wood-Sorrel Fam.
Phelipanche nana / Dwarf Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Above: Phelipanche mutelii is usually found on the Bermuda Buttercup Oxalis pes-caprae which has been introduced to the Mediterranean from South Africa. But it is said to parasitise various Asteraceae and Umbelliferous plants, too. Left: Phelipanche nana is parasite on a big number of native plants of the Mediterranean of many different families, such as Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Geraniaceae, Rubiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Brassicaceae, and Rosaceae.	Caucalis platycarpos / Small Bur Parsley Apiaceae / Umbellifers
Phelipanche schultzii / Schultz' Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Smyrnium olusatrum / Alexanders Apiaceae / Umbellifers	Phelipanche schultzii is parasite of many different plants, preferential of Apiaceae, but also of Rubia peregrina, Stachys glutinosa, and Scorpiurus. Usually Phelipanche schultzii grows higher than the plant which I photographed in a rather dry year.
Phelipanche inexspectata / Lettuce Broomrape, Inexpected Hemp Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Phelipanche inexspectata has been separated from Phelipanche mutelii in 2005. It occurs in the Western Mediterranean. As hosts up to now only several Lettuces of genus Lactuca are known.	Lactuca serriola / Prickly Lettuce Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Phelipanche hedypnoidis / Cretan Weed Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.		Hedypnois rhagadioloides / Cretan Weed Asteraceae / Composite Fam. Only in 2017 this yellowish-lilac colored Phelipanche has been described from a coastal site in Rodos, it occurs also at other locations of the Mediterranean coast and of the North-African coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Usually the host is Cretan Weed Hedypnois rhagadioloides, but rarely other Composites, Plantains, Apiaceae, and Brassicaceae, too.
Phelipanche rumseyana / Rumsey's Rosemary Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Salvia rosmarinus / Rosemary Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.	Phelipanche rumseyana belongs to a group of Phelipanche which are parasites on Rosemary. It is an endemism of the eastern Balearic Islands.
Despite its name the hosts of the Lavender Broomrape aren't Lavender bushes, but various herbaceous plants, often Pitch Trefoil Bituminaria bituminosa. Only the violet color of the flowers of this Broomrape is compared with that of Lavender. Rarely one can find the strange deformation of the Lavender Broomrape which is shown on the middle photo.
Phelipanche lavandulacea / Lavender Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Phelipanche lavandulacea / Lavender Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Bituminaria bituminosa / Pitch Trefoil Fabaceae / Legumes
Phelipanche arenaria / Wormwood Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Phelipanche arenaria / Wormwood Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Artemisia campestris / Field Wormwood Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Phelipanche purpurea / Yarrow Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Achillea millefolium agg. / Yarrow Asteraceae / Composite Fam.	Left: Phelipanche purpurea is parasite on several Composites as e.g. Achillea, Artemisia, and Cirsium, but also on Lamium species. Below: Orobanche crenata is the one which gave the name Orobanche to the genus, the word Orobanche means "Pea Choker". It is parasite of different Legumes including economic plants of this family, but also of Carrots (Apiaceae) and Geraniums.
Orobanche crenata / Carnation-scented Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche crenata / Carnation-scented Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Lathyrus oleraceus subsp. biflorus / Field Pea Fabaceae / Legumes
Orobanche teucrii / Germander Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Teucrium montanum / Mountain Germander Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.	Teucrium chamaedrys / Wall Germander Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
Orobanche alba / Thyme Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche alba / Thyme Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Thymus pulegioides / Large Thyme Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
Orobanche reticulata subsp. pallidiflora / Pale Thistle Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Carduus acanthoides / Welted Thistle Asteraceae / Composite Fam.	Above: Orobanche alba is parasite on several Labiatae as Thymus and Origanum, rarely also on Potentilla, Euphorbia, and Heracleum species. Left: Orobanche reticulata subsp. pallidiflora is the Orobanche which is cadging on thistles (Cirsium, Carduus). Below: The other subspecies of the Thistle Orobanche, Orobanche reticulata subsp. reticulata is more often found on Knautia and Scabiosa than on thistles. It's more an alpine plant.
Orobanche reticulata subsp. reticulata / Thistle Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam. (Photo: Uwe & Katja Grabner)	Scabiosa lucida subsp. lucida / Shining Scabious Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle Fam.	Carlina acaulis / Stemless Carline Thistle Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Orobanche baumanniorum / Baumann's Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Pterocephalus perennis / Mount Parnassus Scabious Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle Fam.	The very dark colored Orobanche baumanniorum parasitizes scabious-like Caprifoliaceae (formerly Dipsacaceaeae), mainly the mat-forming species of genus Pterocephalus.
Below: The hairy Orobanche pubescens lives from different Apiaceae and Asteraceae, but also from Garden Nasturtium Tropaeolum majus.
Orobanche pubescens / Hairy Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Smyrnium olusatrum / Alexanders Apiaceae / Umbellifers	Glebionis segetum / Corn Marygold Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Orobanche amethystea / Seaholly Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche amethystea / Seaholly Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Eryngium campestre / Field Thistle Apiaceae / Umbellifers
Orobanche artemisiae-campestris / Wormwood Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Artemisia campestris / Field Wormwood Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Orobanche picridis / Picris Broomrape, Oxtongue Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche picridis / Picris Broomrape, Oxtongue Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Picris hieracioides / Hawkweed Ox-Tongue Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Orobanche minor / Lesser Broomrape, Common Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Trifolium repens / White Clover Fabaceae / Legumes	Trifolium pratense / Red Clover Fabaceae / Legumes
Orobanche litorea / Bright Common Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Medicago rigidula / Rigid Medick, Tifton Burclover Fabaceae / Legumes
Orobanche hederae / Ivy Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche hederae / Ivy Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Hedera helix / Ivy Araliaceae / Ivy Fam.
Orobanche latisquama / Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Salvia rosmarinus / Rosemary Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
Orobanche caryophyllacea / Bedstraw Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche caryophyllacea / Bedstraw Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Galium verum / Lady's Bedstraw Rubiaceae / Bedstraw Fam.
Orobanche lutea / Yellow Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche lutea / Yellow Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Medicago x varia / Sand Lucerne = Medicago falcata x sativa Fabaceae / Legumes
Orobanche elatior / Tall Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche elatior / Tall Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Centaurea scabiosa / Greater Knapweed Asteraceae / Composite Fam. In the Mediterranean also several other Composites are hosts.
Orobanche kochii / Koch's Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Centaurea aspera / Rough Star-Thistle Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
The three following Central European subspecies of Orobanche alsatica are closely related and are parasites on Apiaceae:
Orobanche alsatica subsp. alsatica / Alsatian Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche alsatica subsp. alsatica / Alsatian Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Peucedanum cervaria / Broad-Leaved Spignel Apiaceae / Umbellifers
Orobanche alsatica subsp. libanotidis / Bartling's Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche alsatica subsp. libanotidis / Bartling's Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Seseli libanotis / Moon Carrot Apiaceae / Umbellifers
Orobanche alsatica subsp. mayeri / Mayer's Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche alsatica subsp. mayeri / Mayer's Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Laserpitium latifolium / Broad-Leaved Sermountain Apiaceae / Umbellifers
Orobanche flava / Butterbur Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam. (Photo: Uwe & Katja Grabner)	Orobanche flava / Butterbur Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Petasites albus / White Butterbur Asteraceae / Composite Fam.
Orobanche lucorum / Barberry Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Orobanche lucorum / Barberry Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Berberis vulgaris / Barberry Berberidaceae / Barberry Fam.
Orobanche salviae / Sage Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Salvia glutinosa / Sticky Sage Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.	Salvia glutinosa / Sticky Sage Lamiaceae / Mint Fam.
Orobanche pancicii / Pancic Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Knautia dipsacifolia / Wood Scabious Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle Fam.	The Eastern European Orobanche pancicii lives on roots of Scabiosa and Knautia.
Orobanche rapum-genistae / Greater Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Cytisus scoparius / Scotch Broom Fabaceae / Legumes	Orobanche rapum-genistae is parasite on several Fabaceae, mainly Brooms and Gorses.
Orobanche variegata / Variegated Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Cytisus scoparius / Scotch Broom Fabaceae / Legumes	Orobanche variegata is parasite on several Fabaceae, mainly shrubs.
Orobanche gracilis / Slender Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Hippocrepis comosa / Horseshoe Vetch Fabaceae / Legumes	Genista tinctoria / Dyer's Greenweed Fabaceae / Legumes Orobanche gracilis is parasite on several Fabaceae, mainly on Brooms and Clovers in wide sense.
Orobanche austrohispanica / Southern-Spanish Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Ulex gallii / Western Gorse Fabaceae / Legumes	Orobanche austrohispanica is closely related to Orobanche gracilis but of stronger growth, and is also parasite on different .
Orobanche sanguinea / Bloody Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Lotus ornithopodioides / Clustered Bird's-Foot Trefoil Fabaceae / Legumes
Orobanche cypria / Cyprian Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.	Thymus integer / Cyprian Broomrape Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam. Orobanche cypria is parasite on three endemic small bushes of Cyprus: Cyprian Broomrape Thymus integer, Multi-Flowered Scabious Pterocephalus multiflorus subsp. multiflorus, and Cyprus Skullcap Scutellaria cypria.	Scutellaria cypria / Cyprus Skullcap Orobanchaceae / Broomrape Fam.
There is a page on parasitic plants of other families, too.