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Broomrape
Orobanche
46.3596, 6.01733
Field Notes
Description:
These are red-brownish shoots, about 30-35cm tall. Shots sport pinkish-brownish discreet but attractive flowers, arranged in a terminal spike. Broomrapes bear no leaves and produce no chlorophylle, and are dependent on other plants for nutrients. Their seeds would remain dormant in the soil, until stimulated to germinate - once seedlings start to germinate, they will produce a root-like organs and attach themselves to a root of nearby hosts. Once attached, the broomrape robs its host of water and nutrients.
Habitat:
Here, seen flowering in grasslands and edges of coniferous alpine forests, in August 2021, in High Jura natural reserve, at about 1550m of altitude. At this level, we were just at the border of treeline, and on subalpine pastures, very green and lush for the season.
Notes:
1. It's a difficult business to come up with a full ID of the species based on pictures and external appearances - many of species look alike; but also many of species can take a very different appearances. However the application I'm using IDs this one as Knapweed broomrape (Orobanche elatior), but only 55% of accuracy... which explains the reason I prefer to keep at genus level.
2. The interesting thing that year (2021) was that in August, these high altitude pastures were not only very lush green and rich, but also in flower - flowers were everywhere, all kinds of them, and quite late in the season - and totally opposite of the situation today, when these pastures are very dry, looking totally burnt.
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