Orobanche hederae Ivy Broomrape

Ivy Broomrape is a Submediterranean-Subatlantic species with a widespread, southern and largely coastal distrution in Britain with some inland occurrences in southeast England.. Some of its most distictive features include its purple stem on which the dull creamy-yellow, purple-flushed flowers are produced almost from the base to the top of the stem and the stigma which is usually yellow in young flowers (see photo). Note, however, that the stigma often becomes suffused with purple as the flowers age. The flowers also tend to be constricted behind the mouth but this is not always shown significantly by all flowers. One of  its most important features is that it parasitises Ivy, particularly Atlantic Ivy (Hedera hibernica) or, occasionally, some of the cultivated members of the Araliaceae such as Fatsia. Common Broomrape sometimes grows on Ivy, but this has not been observed in West Glamorgan as far as we know. It prefers slightly shaded habitats where Ivy is dense, but it also grows on Ivy covered walls. Some evidence suggests that it is undergoing an expansion into urban habitats in Britian. In West Glamorgan it is most common along the coastal cliffs of south Gower but a small population has been known from the Llansywel area of Brition Ferry for more than 50 years.

Native