Toothwort
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Toothwort
| image = Lathraea squamaria.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Common Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria)
| regnum = Plantae
| divisio = Magnoliophyta
| classis = Magnoliopsida
| ordo = Lamiales
| familia = Orobanchaceae
| genus = Lathraea
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
Lathraea clandestina
Lathraea japonica
Lathraea rhodopea
Lathraea squamaria
}}
Toothwort (Lathraea) is a small genus of five to seven species of flowering plants, native to temperate Europe and Asia. They are parasites on the roots of other plants, and are completely lacking chlorophyll. They are usually placed in the family Orobanchaceae, but some recent evidence suggests they should be transferred to the Scrophulariaceae.
Common Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) is parasitic on the roots of hazel and alder, occasionally on beech, 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.
Image:Lathraea clandestina 040603w.jpg
Purple Toothwort (Lathraea clandestina) grows on the roots of alder, poplar and willow. It differs in the dark purple flowers being produced one on each stem.
References
Image:Illustration Lathraea squamaria0.jpgda:Skælrod de:Schuppenwurz nl:schubwortel
