Parish's broomrape facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parish's broomrape |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Orobanche
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| Species: |
parishii
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Orobanche parishii, also known as Parish's broomrape or short-lobed broomrape, is a fascinating type of broomrape plant. It's special because it's a parasitic plant, which means it gets its food and water by attaching to the roots of other plants. Think of it like a plant that doesn't need to make its own meals!
This unique plant is found along the coast and in the mountains of California and Baja California. It usually grows by connecting to the roots of shrubs, especially those in the Asteraceae family, like Menzies' goldenbush.
What is Parish's Broomrape?
Parish's broomrape is a plant that doesn't have green leaves or chlorophyll. Most plants use chlorophyll to make their own food from sunlight through a process called photosynthesis. But since Parish's broomrape is a parasite, it doesn't need to do that. Instead, it takes all the nutrients it needs directly from its host plant.
How Does It Get Food?
Imagine a plant that acts like a tiny straw, sipping nutrients from another plant! That's what Parish's broomrape does. It grows its roots into the roots of a "host" plant. Once connected, it draws out the water and food that the host plant has already made. This allows the broomrape to grow without needing sunlight for its own food production.
What Does It Look Like?
Parish's broomrape usually grows a single, thick stem that can reach about 26 centimetres (10 in) tall. This stem is often hairy and has a pale yellowish color. Since it doesn't have green leaves, its appearance is quite different from most plants you might see.
The flowers of Parish's broomrape grow in a dense cluster. Each flower has a special set of parts:
- Bracts: These are small, oval, leaf-like parts that are often dark-veined and found near the flowers.
- Calyx: This is the outer part of the flower, made up of triangular sepals. Sepals are like tiny leaves that protect the flower bud.
- Corolla: This is the main part of the flower, shaped like a tube and about 2 centimetres (0.8 in) long. The corolla is usually pale brownish or pinkish and has pretty red veins.
