Thyme Broomrape

Scientific name: Orobanche alba

Förekomst: Rare

Thyme Broomrape occurs only on Öland and Gotland. It lacks chlorophyll and parasitizes on the roots of thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and grows like this on dry calcareous soil, such as rocks, sandy soils and alvar.

Thyme Broomrape blooms in July with reddish-brown to yellowish flowers that sit in a few-flowered, often rather sparse cluster.

The species name alba means white. The family name Orobanche was already used as the name of a field weed by Theophrastus. The name comes from the Greek Orobus (a plant name) and ancho (nitrogen), which refers to the parasitic way of life.

Thyme Broomrape is protected. It is considered in Sweden as near threatened.

The distribution includes Central and Southern Europe and West Asia.

Thyme Broomrape hittar du på följande platser:

• Albrunna alvar
• Dröstorps alvar
• Skärlöv alvar
• Solberga alvar