[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
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.
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.
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.
- -
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.
- -
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.
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