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Native Plant Database

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Orobanche uniflora (Oneflowered broomrape)
Bengston, Bennie

Orobanche uniflora L.

Oneflowered broomrape, One-flower Cancer Root

Orobanchaceae (Broom-Rape Family)

USDA Symbol: ORUN

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A parasitic plant with mostly 1-3 erect, slender, leafless yellowish-brown stalks rising from a short underground stem, each stalk topped by 1 white to whitish-lavender to purple, fragrant, bilaterally symmetrical flower with a yellow center.

This parasitic plant obtains its nourishment from the roots of various other plants, often stonecrops (Sedum). Its underground stem is quite short, usually 1-1 1/2 (2.5-4 cm) long. Clustered Broomrape (O. fasciculata), also known as Yellow Broomrape, has mostly 5-10 long, slender, 1-flowered stalks rising from a short, trunk-like stem usually 2-6 (5-15 cm) long; it occurs in the midwestern and Plains states. Louisiana Broomrape (O. ludoviciana), also found in the Midwest and on the plains, has flowers in dense, spike-like clusters. Both of these species are parasitic, especially on members of the aster family (Asteraceae). Lesser Broomrape (O. minor), with purple-tinged flowers in dense spikes, is parasitic mostly on the roots of clovers (Trifolium), of the pea family (Fabaceae); it was naturalized from Europe and now occurs from New York to Florida.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB , NL , NS , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Southwestern Canada south throughout West; Ontario east to Newfoundland, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to South Dakota.
Native Habitat: Damp woods and thickets; open places from lowlands to moderate elevations in mountains.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N), SPM(N)

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes

Recommended Species Lists

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Additional resources

USDA: Find Orobanche uniflora in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Orobanche uniflora in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Orobanche uniflora

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-08-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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