A mystery flower

[Muggsy]

I have lived and worked on this farm for 30 years now and reckon I know the place pretty well, yesterday I was surprised to see a group of plants growing and flowering under a hawthorn hedge and hidden by some dense nettles.
They dont have any leaves, just a flowering stem, some about a foot tall and mostly finished now sadly, can anyone identify them please ?
It would be fantastic if they are of some rare orchid species, just in case they decide to build here in the future

[Adam Cheeseman]

Looks like a species of Broomrape to me.

Cheers,

Adam

[the young hunter]

Definately a Broomrape, probably Common Broomrape. They are parasitic on specific species of plant, hence they do not need to photosynthesise and so lack leaves and chlorophyll.


Mike

[Muggsy]

thanks for that .. googling broomrape has given me heaps of reading now, mostly on this site no wonder I couldn't find it under orchids

Even now I cant see one on here with a yellow throat but I'll keep looking.
Cheers

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by the young hunter

Definately a Broomrape, probably Common Broomrape. They are parasitic on specific species of plant, hence they do not need to photosynthesise and so lack leaves and chlorophyll.


Mike

Indeed it is a Broomrape. It could be Ivy Broomrape because Common Broomrape doesn't usually go as purple as the one shown in your photo. Can you remember what plant it was growing with? Ivy Broomrape is specific to Ivy whereas Common Broomrape isn't as choosy but is common on Peas.

[Muggsy]

yes its ivy .. I checked earlier and had worked out that it could only be relying on either the nettles the hawthorn or the matted ivy thats growing under the hedge.
Its a first for me, thanks for the replies