Orobanche alba | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Orobanche alba in Tauberland, Germany | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Orobanchaceae |
Genus: | Orobanche |
Species: | O. alba
|
Binomial name | |
Orobanche alba | |
Subspecies | |
| |
Synonyms | |
Orobanche epitymum
DC. in
Lamarck &
Candolle
[2] |
Orobanche alba, also known by its common names thyme broomrape [3] and red broomrape, [4] is a holoparasitic plant of the broomrape family. It parasitises plants from the mint family. [5]
It is native to countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. As Orobanche alba is polymorphic and has been relatively poorly studied, there is often uncertainty over taxonomy and classification. [6]
Orobanche alba is a short reddish annual with simple flowering stems. [7] They grow between 8–25 centimetres (3.1–9.8 inches) tall. [7] Plants have fragrant flowers, cylindrical campanulate (bell-shaped) corolla with dark glands, and calyx teeth which are usually ' entire' (consisting of a single piece). [7]
The plant generally flowers from May to June (though in rare cases it flowering can occur into early September) and is pollinated by bumblebees. [7]
Orobanche alba has four accepted infraspecific names: [8]
A study published in Acta Biologica Cracoviensia found that molecular tests "did not clearly explain" the relationships between O. alba subsp. alba and O. alba subsp. major and suggested that they should be considered forms of O.alba rather than subspecies. [13]
Orobanche alba is usually found on dry sunny slopes, steppes, subalpine and alpine grasslands, growing in calcareous, alkaline, sandy or loamy soil. [10]: 23–24 [14]
It parasitises plants from the mint family. [5] It is a known parasite of plants from several genera: Thymus and Salvia most commonly, but also Clinopodium, Acinos, Origanum, Satureja, and Stachys. [10]: 23 As Orobanche species can only parasitise certain plants, seeds must come into contact with chemical signals (such as strigolactones) from the roots of the host plant in order to germinate. [15] [7]
Orobanche alba can be found in north-west Africa and is native to Morocco and Algeria. [8]
Orobanche alba is native to countries throughout the Middle East and Asia including Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of China. [8]
Orobanche alba is found across Europe, [8] including in Ireland, southern Belgium, central Germany, the island of Gotland and south eastern Poland. [10]
O. alba is "locally abundant" on Sicily, occurring on the mountains on the north coast from Monte Erice to Monte Catalfano, on Etna, and on the Nebrodi and Peloritani ranges as well as inland near Ciminna. [2]
In the United Kingdom, O. alba has been found most commonly in Cornwall (especially near Kynance Cove), [3] northern England, Northern Ireland and particularly prolifically in western Scotland. [16] It is also present in the west of Ireland. [16] The highest record was made at Nappa Scar, Wensleydale at around 490 metres (1,610 feet). [16] Populations are said to vary significantly from year to year, but overall appear stable; however numbers in northern England have become "consistently ... critically low". [16] The 2014 Red List for England rated Orobanche alba as " Least Concern" over the period 1930 to 1999, but noted a 59% decline in records since 1987 when pre-1930 historic sightings were included. [17]
Orobanche alba | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Orobanche alba in Tauberland, Germany | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Orobanchaceae |
Genus: | Orobanche |
Species: | O. alba
|
Binomial name | |
Orobanche alba | |
Subspecies | |
| |
Synonyms | |
Orobanche epitymum
DC. in
Lamarck &
Candolle
[2] |
Orobanche alba, also known by its common names thyme broomrape [3] and red broomrape, [4] is a holoparasitic plant of the broomrape family. It parasitises plants from the mint family. [5]
It is native to countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa. As Orobanche alba is polymorphic and has been relatively poorly studied, there is often uncertainty over taxonomy and classification. [6]
Orobanche alba is a short reddish annual with simple flowering stems. [7] They grow between 8–25 centimetres (3.1–9.8 inches) tall. [7] Plants have fragrant flowers, cylindrical campanulate (bell-shaped) corolla with dark glands, and calyx teeth which are usually ' entire' (consisting of a single piece). [7]
The plant generally flowers from May to June (though in rare cases it flowering can occur into early September) and is pollinated by bumblebees. [7]
Orobanche alba has four accepted infraspecific names: [8]
A study published in Acta Biologica Cracoviensia found that molecular tests "did not clearly explain" the relationships between O. alba subsp. alba and O. alba subsp. major and suggested that they should be considered forms of O.alba rather than subspecies. [13]
Orobanche alba is usually found on dry sunny slopes, steppes, subalpine and alpine grasslands, growing in calcareous, alkaline, sandy or loamy soil. [10]: 23–24 [14]
It parasitises plants from the mint family. [5] It is a known parasite of plants from several genera: Thymus and Salvia most commonly, but also Clinopodium, Acinos, Origanum, Satureja, and Stachys. [10]: 23 As Orobanche species can only parasitise certain plants, seeds must come into contact with chemical signals (such as strigolactones) from the roots of the host plant in order to germinate. [15] [7]
Orobanche alba can be found in north-west Africa and is native to Morocco and Algeria. [8]
Orobanche alba is native to countries throughout the Middle East and Asia including Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of China. [8]
Orobanche alba is found across Europe, [8] including in Ireland, southern Belgium, central Germany, the island of Gotland and south eastern Poland. [10]
O. alba is "locally abundant" on Sicily, occurring on the mountains on the north coast from Monte Erice to Monte Catalfano, on Etna, and on the Nebrodi and Peloritani ranges as well as inland near Ciminna. [2]
In the United Kingdom, O. alba has been found most commonly in Cornwall (especially near Kynance Cove), [3] northern England, Northern Ireland and particularly prolifically in western Scotland. [16] It is also present in the west of Ireland. [16] The highest record was made at Nappa Scar, Wensleydale at around 490 metres (1,610 feet). [16] Populations are said to vary significantly from year to year, but overall appear stable; however numbers in northern England have become "consistently ... critically low". [16] The 2014 Red List for England rated Orobanche alba as " Least Concern" over the period 1930 to 1999, but noted a 59% decline in records since 1987 when pre-1930 historic sightings were included. [17]