Aphyllon purpureum

Orobanche uniflora is a flowering plant in the Orobanchaceae family. Also called naked broomrape, one flowered broomrape, or cancer root, O. uniflora is a parasitic plant.

Synonymps:Aphyllon uniflorum, Orobanche uniflora var. typica, Orobanche uniflora var. terrae-novae, Orobanche uniflora var. sedii, Orobanche uniflora var. purpurea, Orobanche uniflora var. occidentalis, Orobanche terrae-novae, Orobanche sedii, Orobanche purpurea, Orobanche porphyrantha, Thalesia uniflora, Orobanche uniflora var. minuta, Orobanche uniflora ssp. occidentalis, Orobanche uniflora var. sedi

Source: http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Orobanche+uniflora

Taxonomy

• Kingdom Plantae – Plants
• Subkingdom -Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
• Superdivision - Spermatophyta – Seed plants
• Division - Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
• Class - Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
• Subclass - Asteridae
• Order - Scrophulariales
• Family - Orobanchaceae – Broom-rape family
• Genus - Orobanche – broomrape
• Species - O. uniflora

Description

O. uniflora is a short, annual, parasitic herb that is glandular hairy. It is somewhat fleshy. The stems of this plant are short (1 - 5 cm) compared to the pedicles, which are 3 - 10 cm long. The herb has no leaves or bracts. Flowers 1 - 3, on long pedicles. Calyx 5 -12 mm, with brown to purple corolla that measures 15 - 35 mm. Flower two lipped, with five finely fringed lobes.

http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php

Bloom Period

April to August http://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php

Distribution

Present in every contiguous state in the United States, plus Alaska and much of Canada.

Source: http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ORUN

Habitat

Moist open sites, or open woods. Low to middle elevations.