Fam:   Scrophulariaceae Juss.
Genus:   Lathraea L.
English Name: Toothwort

Description:

Perennial chlorophyll-free herbaceous plants, with succulent, fleshy, branched rhizome, parasitizing on the roots of trees and shrubs; the branches of the roots thick, up to 10 mm in diameter, fleshy, densely covered with whitish, fleshy scaly leaves and with thin, filamentous haustoria penetrating the roots of the host. Stem erect or ascending, thick, fleshy. Leaves scaly, fleshy, rhizomatously arranged crosswise in 4 rows; on the stem consecutive, spaced. The flowers are gathered in a dense one-sided or many-sided cluster at the top of the stem; flower petioles short, with a scaly bract at the base. The calyx to the middle divided into 4 (5) sections. Corolla bilobed, slightly longer than the calyx; upper lip entire, lower 3-lobed. Stamens 4 (5) attached to the corolla tube, equal to or slightly longer than it. Anthers fibrous, their two halves narrowed and pointed towards the top. Ovary single-nested, front with nectarine in the form of a semicircular fleshy scale or bulge. The fruit is a box with many or several seeds, cracking in two halves.

Note. Special care is needed when herbariuming, as the plants turn black.

Table for determination of the species 1   Flower petioles 3 - 6 (10) mm long; inflorescence unilateral class cluster; calyx 8 - 12 mm long; corolla 14 - 17 (20) mm long …………………………...................................................................................................……………. 1. - L. squamaria L. 1* Flower petioles 1 - 3 mm long; inflorescence many-sided cylindrical class cluster; calyx 5 - 9 mm long; corolla 9 - 12 mm long ………………………....................................................................................................………….. 2. - L. rhodopea Dingier ¹ Developed by D Delipavlov. From:   „Флора на Република България”, том X, Академично издателство „Проф. Марин Дринов”, Б А Н, София, (1995)

*     *     *     *     *
Lathraea (toothwort) is a small genus of five to seven species of flowering plants, native to temperate Europe and Asia. They are parasitic plants on the roots of other plants, and are completely lacking chlorophyll. They are classified in the family Orobanchaceae.
The toothwort is a protocarnivorous plant.[dubious – discuss] Most of the plant consists of a branched whitish underground stem closely covered with thick fleshy colourless leaves, which are bent over so as to hide the under surface; irregular cavities communicating with the exterior are formed in the thickness of the leaf. On the inner walls of these chambers are stalked hairs, which when stimulated by the touch of an insect send out delicate filaments by means of which the insect is killed and digested.[1][2]

Etymology

The genus name Lathraea derives from the ancient greek λαθραῖος (lathraîos), meaning "clandestine",[3] which is a reference to the fact that it is inconspicuous until it flowers.[4]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

*     *     *     *     *

Lathraea

The genus Lathraea is in the family Orobanchaceae in the major group Angiosperms (Flowering plants).

From:   www.plantlist.org › browse › Orobanchaceae › Lathraea

*     *     *     *     *

References: „Флора на Република България”, том X, Академично издателство „Проф. Марин Дринов”, Б А Н,
София, (1995), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, www.plantlist.org › browse › Orobanchaceae › Lathraea

Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc.
Distribution:

Lathraea squamaria L. - Common toothwort

Back to BEGINNING

^© Copy right: K. Nanev© 2012. All rights reserved