Lathraea

Hidden Schuppenwurz ( Lathraea clandestina )

The scales Wurzen ( Lathraea ) are a five to seven kinds comprehensive, parasitically living plant genus of the family of broomrape family ( Orobanchaceae ).

Description

Shed Wurzen are herbaceous, parasitic plants. Its stalk grows erect, unbranched or branched directly from the base.

The inflorescences are grapes or ears. The flowers are accompanied by a bract, bracteoles absent. The flower stalks are very short or absent. The calyx is bell-shaped, the edge is vierlappig. The crown is bilobed. The four stamens are slightly above the crown out. The dust bags are made of two fertile counters. The ovary is unicompartmental, standing at its base often nectaries. The two placentas are parietal. The style is slender and ends in a disc-shaped scar.

The fruits are capsules that jump zweiklappig. The seeds are almost spherical. Most fruits contain four seeds, it can rarely, however, only but also a variety of seeds are produced two or more.

System

Within the genus are five to seven species distinction (selection):

• Hidden Schuppenwurz ( Lathraea clandestina L.): Northern Spain, France, Belgium and West - Central Italy
• Lathraea japonica Miq. Japan
• Lathraea rhodopea Dingler: Bulgaria and northeastern Greece ( Thrace )
• Lathraea H. A. purpurea Cummins ex King: Nepal
• Ordinary Schuppenwurz ( Lathraea squamaria L.): almost all of Europe and West Asia

Dissemination

The species of the genus are found in Europe, Russia, China and Japan.