[Broomrapes: The Genera Aphyllon and Orobanche West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Naked Broomrape, One-flowered Broomrape, Purple Broomrape

Aphyllon purpureum

Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi

Naked Broomrape, One-flowered Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Orobanche uniflora (Synonyms: Aphyllon uniflorum, Orobanche porpyrantha, Orobanche purpurea, Orobanche sedii, Orobanche terrae-novae, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi, Orobanche uniflora var. sedii, Orobanche uniflora var. terrae-novae, Orobanche uniflora var. typica, Thalesia uniflora)

A mass of naked broomrape as seen at Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.......April 9, 2009. In this case, the basal leaves of their host plants (Saxifraga integrifolia) can be seen scattered amongst the stems of the naked broomrape.

Frontal view of Naked Broomrape, One-flowered Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Orobanche uniflora (Synonyms: Aphyllon uniflorum, Orobanche porpyrantha, Orobanche purpurea, Orobanche sedii, Orobanche terrae-novae, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi, Orobanche uniflora var. sedii, Orobanche uniflora var. terrae-novae, Orobanche uniflora var. typica, Thalesia uniflora)The photo at right shows a close-up frontal view of the corolla of naked broomrape. Note the numerous gland-tipped hairs on the inner surface of each corolla lobe.
Characteristics:

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.


Former Varieties of Naked Broomrape:

variety minuta: Flowers 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.


Habitat:

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


Range:

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

In the Columbia River Gorge it may be found between the elevations of 100'-3000' between Stevenson, WA and Biggs, OR.


Sideview of corolla of Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi)

The photo above shows a close-up sideview of the tubular corolla of naked broomrape: Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea . Note the numerous gland-tipped hairs over the outer surface of the corolla.

Mouth of the corolla of Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi) - Sideview of the corolla tube and calyx of Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi) - Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi)

Additional photos of naked broomrape at the base of a saxifrage as seen in moist grassy slopes east of Coyote Wall in the mid-Columbia River Gorge.......April 15, 2010.

Close-up frontal view of a flower of Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi) - Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi) -

Close-up sideview of a flower of Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi)

Additional close-ups of naked broomrape as seen with northwestern saxifrage (Saxifraga integrifolia var. claytoniifolia) in moist meadows along Rattlesnake Creek, near Rattlesnake Falls, Klickitat County, WA........May 28, 2011.

Naked Broomrape, Purple Broomrape: Aphyllon purpureum (Synonyms: Orobanche poryphyrantha, Orobanche sedi, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi)

Photo above of Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea with one of its hosts, Saxifraga integrifolia var. integrifolia at Catherine Creek, Columbia Gorge Scenic Area.......March 30, 1991.

Paul Slichter