Broomrape
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Orobanchaceae
Common & widespread in Britain.
The hermaphroditic flowers are bilaterally symmetrical and grow either in racemes or spikes or singly at the apex of the slender stem.
The tubular calyx is formed by 2–5 united sepals.
There are five united, bilabiate petals forming the corolla and they may be yellowish, brownish, purplish, or white.
The upper lip is two-lobed, the lower lip is three-lobed.
There are two long and two short stamens on slender filaments, inserted below the middle, or at the base of the corolla tube, alternating with the lobes of the tube.
A fifth stamen is either sterile or lacking completely.
The anthers dehisce via longitudinal slits.