Orobanche latisquama (F. W. Schultz) Batt.

Spice Flower detail In the field

Family: OROBANCHACEAE

Genus: Orobanche

Catalan common name: Bec de corb. Dits de frare. Estopissot de gos. Frare de romaní. Pa de corb.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Near to Rosmarinus officinalis

Characteristics: Orobanche parasitizes Rosmarinus officinalis, and is very common in the Pitusae. It robust, reddish in colour, with larges leaves atop of the stem, and often branching from the base. The flowers are purplish and characteristic, as the calyx is bell-shaped but with two lobes on the superior half, the column side, instead of being divided into two pieces from its base. Flowers during the spring.