Orobanche caryophyllacea Sm.

Posted byTrajche DimitrovskiPosted inUncategorized

Taxonomy: Fam. Orobanchaceae// Genus: Orobanche// Species: Orobanche caryophyllacea Sm.

Determined according to the botanical key provided by Chater and Webb in Tutin et al. (1972).

Lifeform: Obligate root parasite.

Host: Parasitizes on members of the Rubiaceae. The pictured plants were found on Galium sp. as host.

Distribution: Native from Europe to Xinjiang and Pakistan, Northwest Africa according to the distribution information provided by the Plants of the World Online portal (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew).

Flowering period:  Summer: JUN.

Orobanche caryophyllacea – habit. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – habit. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – habit. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – habit. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – inflorescences. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – developing inflorescence with pale-yellow glands. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – developing inflorescence with pale-yellow glands. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – developing flowers with pale-yellow glands. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 18.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – flower. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – flower. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – flower. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – flower. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – side view of flower, calyx and bract. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – side view of flower, calyx and bract. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – side view of flower, calyx and bract. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – side view of flower, calyx and bract. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – stems with leaves. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – stem with leaf. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – stem with leaf. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – base of stem. Osogovo – “Emirichka” River, 08.06.2025. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.
Orobanche caryophyllacea – A: flowers. Scale in cm; B: longitudinal section of flower; C, D, E and F: corolla and insertion point of anthers; G: ovary, style and stigma; H: calyx; I: bract. Scale in mm. Photo by Trajche Dimitrovski.

References:

Orobanche caryophyllacea Sm. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:662213-1 [Accessed 15.06.2025].

Orobanche L. Chater, A. O. and Webb, D. A. in Tutin, T.G., Heywood, V.H., Burges, N.A., Moore, D.M., Valentine, D.H., Walters, S.M. & Webb, D.A. (1972). Flora Europaea. Volume 3: Diapensiaceae to Myoporaceae. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 286 – 293.