48 WONDERS OF PLANT LIFE 



easy to establish, and it may be seen growing in 

 great abundance in several botanic gardens. The 

 appearance of the plant is very singular, with its 

 thick spikes of pale lilac-tinted flowers. Below 

 the surface of the soil it is possible to see the 

 manner in which the Toothwort gets a living. 

 From the roots of the plant arise suckers in one 

 species (L. clandestine^ as large as split peas 

 by means of which the roots of trees are pene- 

 trated. Another plant of similar habit to the 

 Toothwort is the Broomrape (Orobanche), which 

 grows as a parasite on the roots of many common 

 plants, notably Broom and other leguminous 

 species. The Broomrape has, of course, no true 

 leaves, and looks more like a withered flower- 

 spike, so dingy is the colouring of its inflorescence. 

 There are several species of Orobanche to be 

 found in Britain, one of which (0. major] is quite 

 frequently to be met with. It does not seem 

 that these root parasites are actually very harmful 

 to the plants upon which they force their attentions. 

 One could not very well leave the subject of 

 plant parasites without a reference to that wonder 

 of the world, the Rafflesia Arnoldi. This species, 

 which was discovered in Sumatra in 1818 by Dr. 

 Arnold, is so curiously modified that it is almost 

 reduced to one giant flower. The blossoms are 



