Orobanchaceae
Other related families: Scrophulariaceae, Veronicaceae and Phrymacaceae.
Blue and purple:
Note that flower shape is somewhat similar in:
Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
Veronicaceae
Red-pink:
Lousewort
Bartsia
Broomrape
Eyebright
Toothwort
Field Cow-wheat
Note that flower shape is somewhat similar in:
Yellow flowers
Yellow Rattle
Yellow Bartsia
Cow-wheats
Cow-wheats
Note that flower shape is somewhat similar in:
White or whiteish flowers:
Note that flower shape is somewhat similar in :
Lamiaceae
Orobanchaceae.
Orobanchaceae/Bartsia . . . . . Bartsia
Bartsia alpina . . . . Alpine bartsia
Local on mountains in W Sc and N En
Orobanchaceae/Euphrasia . . . . . Eyebrights
Euphrasia spp. . . . . Eyebrights
Eyebrights are often divided into many spp. (Stace 2010 gives 19 and many hybrids) - here just a few examples are shown.
Orobanchaceae/Lathraea . . . . . Toothwort
Lathraea clandestina . . . . Purple Toothwort
Introduced parasite; scattered in BI
Lathraea squamaria . . . . Toothwort
Native parasite esp. of hazel and elm, scattered cross BI, rarer in Sc; April flowering
Orobanchaceae/Melampyrum . . . . Cow-wheats
Select from:
Melampyrum pratense
Melampyrum sylvaticum
Melampyrum arvense
Common Cow-wheat
Small Cow-wheat
Field Cow-wheat
Comparison of
M. Pratense (Left hand-side) and
M. sylvaticum (RHS) side-by-side, showing the shorter/darker flowers of
M. sylvaticum:
Melamprum arvense . . . . Field Cow-wheat
Rare in S
Melamprum pratense . . . . Common Cow-wheat
Widespread in woods and heathland
Melamprum sylvaticum . . . . Small Cow-wheat
Very local in damp woods by streams at about 20 sites in Sc
Also M. cristatum (Crested Cow-wheat) is a rare plant around E. Anglia, similar colouring to M. arvense but without the "mop head"
Possibly similar spp. :
Orobanchaceae/Odontites . . . . . Red Bartsia
Odontites vernus . . . . Bartsia
Widespread - no attempt is made here to distinguish the subspp. that have been recognised
Orobanchaceae/Orobanche . . . . Broomrapes
Choose from:
Phelipanche purpurea
Orobanche minor
Orobanche hederae
Orobanche rapum-genistae
There are several other spp. in the BI
Orobanche minor . . . . Common Broomrape
Two calyx teeth each side of flower; 2 generally purple stigmas; the commonest broomrape
See also:
Phelipanche
Orobanche hederae . . . . Ivy Broomrape
Corolla pale with faint purple veins; stigmas usually yellow, sometimes purple; local mostly in CI, S & W Br, Ire
Orobanche rapum-genistae . . . . Greater Broomrape
Two calyx teeth each side of flower; 2 yellow stigmas; very local CI, N to S Sc
Orobanchaceae/Parentucellia . . . . Yellow Bartsia
Parentucellia viscosa . . . . . Yellow Bartsia
Locally frequent in S & W Br, Ire and CI
See also:
Orobanchaceae/Pedicularis . . . . Louseworts
Pedicularis palustris . . . . Marsh Lousewort
Common in marshes in N & W; the usually erect stems distinguish this from P. sylvatica
Pedicularis sylvatica . . . . Lousewort
In slightly drier habitats than the above and more wiespread
See also:
Phelipanche (was included in Orobanche). . . . Yarrow Broomrape
Phelipanche purpurea . . . . Yarrow Broomrape
Two calyx teeth and one bracteole each side of flower; 2 white stigmas; very local CI and S
Orobanchaceae/Rhinanthus . . . . Rattles
Orobanchaceae/Rhinanthus minor . . . . Yellow Rattle
Corolla <16mm; many subspp. have been recognised but may be usefully considered together
Orobanchaceae/Rhinanthus angustifolius . . . . Greater Yellow-rattle
Pale green calyx with corolla >17mm and violet tips to upper lip >1mm; rare, v. scattered in Br;
See also:
