2007 Photograph,
Beechdrops (Epifagus americana,
Broomrape family, Orobanchaceae), Fairfax Villa Park, Fairfax, Virginia, © 2020.
These achlorophyllous (lacking chlorophyll) plants get their nourishment
by parasitizing the roots of Beech Trees. The lower flowers are
cleistogamous (never opening and self-pollinating) while the upper
flowers have a distinct corolla. This enables the plant to hedge
its bets by insuring that there will be a next generation from the
cleistogamous flowers while also enjoying the benefits of
cross-pollination through the upper flowers should conditions be
adequate for them to form and set their seeds. |
