BROOMRAPE 



Orobanche fasciculata Nutt. 



April - August It is the tremendous function ol most plants to mami- 

 Sands Jactiuc their own food and at the same time jjrovide 



food for all other living things. Yet there are certain 

 plants which do not mak(> their own food. They are parasitic upon the 

 roots or stems of otlui- plants which usually are little the worse for the 

 drain upon their substance. 



Broomrapc grows in sandy ground and is found as a jiarasite on 

 Artemisia, Eriogonum, and certain other i)lants I'ound in similar habi- 

 tats. liroomra])e is a i'omi)!ete ])arasite. The set^ds .^eem to germinate 

 only in contact with the roots of the host plants; the broomrai)e stems 

 spring directly from the host's roots and has uouo of its own. The larger 

 broomrape has been found on Artemisia jtlants which were dying from 

 the drain of several parasites upon tliem. 



Froni April to August, the broi>mrape sends up purplish, thickly 

 downy, stout stems; there are a U^w triangular puiplish seah^s along the 

 stem, but no true heaves, and no greenness. At the top of the stem is a 

 bud enwrapped in five triangidar scales and from this emerges a long, 

 curving, tubular, pur|)lish ilower which (wpands with five lobes. Insects 

 fertilize the llowers aiul eventually seeds form and fall to the ground. 

 Only those which are washed down through the soil to luake contact with 

 the roots of Artenii>ia will germinate and send up new broomrape plants. 



