On 08/07/2013 17:01, echinosum wrote:
'Spider[_3_ Wrote:
;987061']Yesterday, I noticed a single stem of Ivy Broomrape growing in
my mainly
Pyracantha hedge where a pretty ivy grows through. Although I've seen
images in books, I'd never seen a living one before. I believe it's
parasitic on ivy, but don't know how it gets there. Is it in some way
endemic? Or is seed distributed by birds?

Once you become aware of it - ie Broomrape in general - you see it much
more often! Common Broomrape is quite common really, and I usually spot
it a couple of times a year just while out on a walk. It's even come up
once or twice in a flowerbed in my garden, though I'm not sure quite
what it was parasitising there. It's frequently mistaken for an orchid,
as also is common toothwort.

It seems it just has very long-lived seeds which sit there in the soil
waiting for the right conditions.





Thanks, Echinosum. A friend has already told me she's seen something
similar in our local wood. I must go and take a look at that. You're
right, it does look a bit like an orchid. I confess when I first saw it
with the flowers barely open, it looked like a purple asparagus spear!
However, I don't think I'll try eating it!!

They're really interesting plants. I've even discovered that seeds are
available to buy. Must investigate that further. Thanks.

--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay