Orobanche bulbosa

Orobanche bulbosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Genus:	Orobanche
Species:	O. bulbosa
Binomial name
Orobanche bulbosa (A.Gray) G.Beck
Synonyms
Aphyllon tuberosum Myzorrhiza tuberosa Phelipaea tuberosa

Orobanche bulbosa is a species of broomrape known by the common name chaparral broomrape. It is native to the chaparral of California and Baja California, where it is a parasite growing attached to the roots of shrubs, usually chamise. This plant 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
• USDA Plants Profile
• Photo gallery