Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Thyme Broomrape, Orobanche alba, Múchóg dhearg
Photos: Abbey Hill, the Burren, Co. Clare

Thyme Broomrape
Orobanche alba
Múchóg dhearg
Family: Orobanchaceae

Flowering June-August. Annual (or possibly perennial). Native.

Parasitic on the roots of Thyme, Thymus drucei. Short spikes of red-flushed creamy-yellow flowers with the stigma-lobes partially fused and glandular hairs on lower lip. Purplish-red stems. Height 10-25cm. (Photographs show plant dying back after flowering.)

Very local and population size varies from year to year. Mainly base-rich rocky slopes near north and west Irish coasts where Thyme is present

Similar: Common Broomrape, O. minor, Ivy Broomrape, O. hederae

Thyme Broomrape, Orobanche alba, Múchóg dhearg

Thyme Broomrape, Orobanche alba, Múchóg dhearg
Thyme Broomrape, Orobanche alba, Múchóg dhearg

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