Common broomrape (Orobanche minor)

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Comment by Julie 4 hours ago

here's what the online AI say about it in UK

, where it is the most widespread and commonly recorded species of broomrape. 

Where It Grows in the UK

• Distribution: It is widely recorded across southern England, becomes less common in Wales, and is rarely found in lowland Scotland. It is largely absent from the Scottish Highlands and outer islands. 

Core Members Comment by Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ yesterday

This is the first time I've ever seen it in my garden too, so took a picture of it and had to look it up on google search, I thought maybe it was a seed that lay dorment in the soil from a previous owner that was here 20yrs ago in my house, or a bird has managed to pick it up on its foot maybe and the rain has washed it down to the bottom of the tree,.. so on looking it up I found that's the case..

Broomrape (Orobanche and Phelipanche species) propagates primarily by producing massive quantities of tiny, dust-like seeds that rely on chemical signals from a host plant to germinate and attach to the roots.. isnt that amazing..

Comment by Julie on Monday

I'm not sure if we have this here in England, I'd have to look it up

Core Members Comment by Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ..aka Reɪvən ღ on Monday

Parasitic Nature: It lacks chlorophyll (green pigment) and cannot produce its own food. Instead, it attaches itself to the root systems of host plants—commonly clovers, legumes, and other broadleaf plants—to draw water and nutrients.

Appearance: It features fleshy, upright, brownish-purple or violet-tinted flower spikes with small scale-like leaves rather than normal green foliage.

Status: In New Zealand and many other regions, it is considered an exotic/naturalized species that pops up seasonally in lawns, gardens, and pastures where host plants grow..