Naked Broomrape, One-flowered Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche uniflora, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobnche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobnche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea)

Two color-forms of naked broomrape as seen along the Round Mountain South Trail #805 just south of the summit of Round Mountain, Ochoco National Forest.........May 28, 2016.

Naked broomrape is an attractive perennial wildflower with single,erect floral pedicels from 5-15 cm high. The main stem is 0.5-2 cm long and is typically buried under the soil. The herbage is typically finely glandular-hairy.

The inflorescence consists of 1-3 flowers on long pedicels. The calyx is 6-12 mm long with the calyx tube from 2-4 mm long and the subequal lobes from 4-9 mm long. The corolla is 15-25 mm long and yellowish to purplish in color. The tube is curved with the lobes measuring 2-7 mm long with rounded, finely fringed tips. The anthers are 0.9-12 mm long, ranging from glabrous to woolly-pubescent.

Naked broomrape is parasitic on many saxifrages, sedums and members of the Asteraceae.

variety occidentalis: Flowers cream to light yellow to purplish with the throat not much expanded. Limb is small and does not expand much. The corolla measures 1.5-2.5 cm long. The anthers are glabrous.

variety purpurea: Flowers purplish with the throat fairly expanded and spreading. The limb is large and expands widely. The corolla measures 2-3.5 cm long. The anthers are woolly.

Naked broomrape may be found in open, moist grasslands or occasionally in moist woodlands from the lowlands to moderate elevations in the mountains.

Naked broomrape may be found from the Yukon south to southern California and east to Newfoundland and hence south to Florida.

Naked broomrape (var. occidentalis) as seen at left at a seep (with Micranthes nidifica) along the Hard Stone Trail, west bank of the John Day River, Cottonwood Canyon State Park.........March 19, 2017. The photo at right shows naked broomrape (var. occidentalis) at the Hells Canyon Scenic Viewpoint, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area......June 11, 2018.

Naked broomrape as seen in basalt rock runnels along the south side of FS Road #2230 about one mile east of the lookout atop Mount Pisgah, Ochoco National Forest..........June 13, 2015.

The photo at left shows naked broomrape as seen near the ski shelter atop Lookout Mountain, Ochoco National Forest..........June 15, 2015. The photo at center shows several naked broomrapes with there hosts, a prairiestar (Lithophragma sp.) as seen along the Lookout Mountain Trail #804 in vernally moist lithosol soils several hundred yards downhill from the ski shelter atop Lookout Mountain, Ochoco National Forest.........June 25, 2017. The photo at right shows naked broomrape in bloom where the Ochoco Mountain Trail #823 crosses Forest Road 3800-200 just east of Spanish Peak, Ochoco National Forest.....June 17, 2019.

Naked broomrape as seen (left) poking up through the leaves of Lomatium donnellii along the Steins Pillar Trail #367, Ochoco National Forest........May 21, 2017. The photo at right shows a cluster of naked broomrape arising through the leaves of prairiestars on scablands between Forest Road 4040 and the North Fork Crooked River Wild and Scenic River.........May 11, 2017.

Naked broomrape in bloom along What Road near the DNR-Wenatchee National Forest boundary north of Cleman Mountain, Yakima County, WA......May 24, 2019.