Orobanche bulbosa
Orobanche bulbosa is a species of plant known by the common name chaparral broomrape.
| Orobanche bulbosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Orobanche |
| Species: | O. bulbosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Orobanche bulbosa | |
| Synonyms | |
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Aphyllon tuberosum | |
It is native to the chaparral of California and Baja California. It is a parasite growing attached to the roots of shrubs, usually chamise.
Description
Orobanche bulbosa arises from a thick root and a bulbous, twisted, scaly stem base, and grows erect to a maximum height near 30 centimetres (12 in). As a parasite taking its nutrients from a host plant, it lacks leaves and chlorophyll. It is dark purple to nearly black in color, with tiny whitish bumps bearing hairs.
The inflorescence is a dense spike-like or pyramid-shaped cluster of generally over 20 flowers. Each flower is tubular, between 1 and 2 centimetres (0.4 and 0.8 in) long, and yellow to purple in color.
The fruit is a capsule containing minute seeds.
External links
- Jepson Manual Treatment of Orobanche bulbosa
- USDA Plants Profile for Orobanche bulbosa
- Orobanche bulbosa — Photo gallery
