Orobanche sp     Broomrape

Orobanche alba

Orobanche plants are more difficult to identify than you might think. The colour of the flower varies more than most books say. At first I thought this plant was O. alba but most texts give say this a short plant and this one was quite tall. It could be O. pubescens because it seems to have many of the characteristics which include the shape of the lower lip, the purple stigma and the hairiness but it's the wrong colour if that means anything.

However if you are an Orobanche expert and think this is wrong please let me know.

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Verge of country path, near Gharb, Gozo 24th March 2005

Added on 8th February 2007