The Broomrape Family (Orobanchaceae)
	Family Description	All of the plants in this family are parasitic. This means that they steal energy from other living things. They do not posses chlorophyll and are often red or brown. This makes them very unusual in the plant Kingdom, because most plants do contain chlorophyll and can photosynthesise. The stems are very stiff and straight. There are many different types of Broomrape and they can be found growing as parasites on different plants, such as gorse, ivy and carrot.
	Ivy Broomrape Orobanche hederae	Ivy Broomrape grows as a parasite on Ivy, which is a woody evergreen. It saps nutrients from the root of the Ivy. It is a reddish, purple colour and is quite hairy. The flowers are a dull cream colour, tinged with reddish-purple towards the end. It has scaly pointed purple leaves. The flowers grow out of the stem and are not on stalks.
	Habitat	Ivy Broomrape is often found in woodland, hedgebanks and on old walls.
	Special features	No chlorophyll - a very unusual feature in the plant Kingdom. Parasitic.
	Reproduction	The fruit capsule disperses many small seeds.
	Distribution	Seasonal Flowers in June and July. Geographical Throughout Southern England and Wales, especially coastal districts.
	Folklore	The closely related Lesser Broomrape, was known as the Devil's Root and Hell's Root, because of its strange colour and shape.
	Fun Fact	The seeds of Broomrape can survive for up to ten years in the soil. This is one reason why they are difficult to eliminate from crop fields.