Toothwort
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
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| Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) | ||||||||||||
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Lathraea squamaria |
Toothwort is the popular name for a small European plant of curious form and growth, known botanically as Lathraea squamaria, family Scrophulariaceae. It grows parasitically on roots, chiefly of hazel (or holly), in shady places such as hedge sides.
It consists of a branched whitish underground stem closely covered with thick, fleshy, colourless leaves, which are bent over so as to hide under the surface; irregular cavities communicating with the exterior are formed in the thickness of the leaf.
The only portions that appear above ground are the short flower-bearing shoots, which bear a spike of two-lipped dull purple flowers. The scales which represent the leaves also secrete water, which escapes and softens the ground around the plant.
A related parasitic species is the Purple Toothwort, Lathraea clandestina (see below) which also lacks chlorophyll and grows on roots of poplar and willow.
The genus Lathraea was formerly thought to be allied to another group of British parasitic plants: broomrape (Orobanche). However it is now classified in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae.
References
- This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
- 'L. Watson and M. J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The Families of Flowering Plants (http://www.delta-intkey.com/angio/www/scrophul.htm): Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, Information Retrieval. Version: 13th January 2005. http://www.delta-intkey.com’.da:Skælrod (Lathraea squamaria)fr:Lathrée écailleuse
