Thistle broomrape

Last year I found a surprise on Saaremaa: a plant that I couldn’tdetermine. A quick call to Arne gave the answer – broomrape, and most likely thistle broomrape. I went out to look for them this year too. Solitary pale brown plants, somehow giving an impression of vigorous power, were dotted across the meadow. Three species of broomrape have been found in Estonia, but unfortunately there are no illustrations in the plant ABC book* that can be used to compare them. The broomrapes remind a little of the bird’s-nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), but they are much ”fleshier”.

 

*Toomas Kukk: Eesti taimede kukeaabits – ABC Book of Estonian Plants,  2004. – 1400 Estonian plants with illustrations and distribution maps