Orobanche ramosa L. subsp. ramosa

Spice Flower Flower 2 In the field

Family: OROBANCHACEAE

Genus: Orobanche

Catalan common name: Espàrec bord. Frare.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Cultivated zones. Parasite plant of Nicotiana tabacum, Lycopersicum esculentum, Cannabis sativa, Linum usitatissimum and others.

Characteristics: Surprisingly there are blue plants; this Orobanche is one of them. It is a parasite of other plant species and, as such, do not need to have chlorophyll (which is the pigment that gives the green colour). Orobanche ramosa is quite frequent along the sides of garrigues (Mediterranean woodland) and even in neglected farmlands. The name ramosa comes because it generally branches from the base unlike the other species of the genus that are not branched. It is a parasite in many different plants (Leguminosae, Compositae, Labiate, etc.). It flowers in spring.