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67.) OROBANCHACEAE - Broomrape family

OROBANCHACEAE - Broomrape family

MELAMPYRUM L.

  • Melampyrum pratense L. (Common Cow-wheat) - Woodland 1st record 1834 May 1834 ST622724 St Anne's Wood, Brislington Braikenridge Mr G.W. - 7269

  • ssp. pratense Found in woodland on acidic soils. Only recently recorded from Hanham Woods and From Valley.

  • ssp. latifolium Schübl. & G. Martens (Common Cow-wheat) - [Yatton, 1892, Mrs. Gregory - Brist. Fl.] - not accepted by Stace but is by Kew. Woodland Extinct

  • ssp. commutatum (Tausch ex A. Kern.) C.E. Britton. var. commutatum (Common Cow-wheat) Woodland Extinct Found on limestone soils. Historically recorded from ST47 pre-1930s by ? [BSBI record].

EUPHRASIA L.

79 records of just Euphrasia inc some v good botanists! First 1983 SEP 1983 ST7662 Combe Down quarries - disused quarry St.Winifreds, clearings, scrub, woodland Randall D Rob 55

  • Euphrasia officinalis L. On db as E. officinalis agg first 1977 16/06/1977 ST344567 South Hill, Bleadon Mendip Ecological Survey recorder - - 4180

  • ssp. pratensis (Fr.) Schübl. & G. Martens (E. rostkoviana Hayne) (Rostkov's Eyebright - Stace, Large-flowered Sticky Eyebright - NBN) Grassland 1 record 1986 02/09/1986 ST4056 Wavering Down Hedley Mr. S. M. Stuart 20

  • ssp. anglica (Pugsley) Silverside (English Eyebright - Stace, English Sticky Eyebright - NBN) /- Grassland

  • Euphrasia arctica Lange ex Rostrup ssp. borealis (F. Towns.) Yeo (Arctic Eyebright) - [Brist. Fl. as E. brevipila] Grassland Recorded at Hutton Hill in 2025 by D. Hawkins (as E. arctica) - SRPG Newsletter 2025, p. 56.)

2 records 06/09/1920 ST4274 Coast between Portishead and Clevedon, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526 10/08/1920 ST514719 Roadside near the Failand Inn, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • Euphrasia arctica ssp. borealis x E. nemorosa (Arctic x Common Eyebright) - [Brist. Fl. as E. nemorosa x borealis] Grassland

  • Euphrasia tetraquetra (Bréb.) Arrond. (Western Eyebright) Grassland first 1920 22/05/1920 ST514719 near the Failand Inn, North Somerset Sandwith Y Noel 9527

  • Euphrasia nemorosa (Pers.) Wallr. (Common Eyebright) / Grassland This is the one we have most records for: first 1920 31/07/1920 ST563746 slopes of the Gully, Clifton Down, Bristol Sandwith Y Noel 9527

  • Euphrasia nemorosa x E. confusa (Common x Confused Eyebright) - BSBI records Grassland

  • Euphrasia pseudokerneri Pugsley (Chalk Eyebright) - 2 records according to NBN [see file:///C:/Users/Dylan/Downloads/Euphrasia-pseudokerneri-2020-03-19.pdf] Grassland

2 records 1988 22/05/1988 ST5674 Clifton Down, Durdham Down, place may refer to name of 1km ref. Kitchen or Kitchen and others - Mark and or Clare 9922 2015 19/08/2015 ST78956827 Banner Down, comments may have more precise location details Crouch Dr Helena J 1568

  • Euphrasia confusa Pugsley (Confused Eyebright - Stace, Little Kneeling Eyebright - NBN) Grassland 1 record 1985 June-Sept 1985 ST754610 Horsecombe Vale & part of South Stoke Randall D Rob 55

ODONTITES Ludw.

  • Odontites vernus (Bellardi) (Red Bartsia) / Grassland Frequent first 1939 22/09/1939 ST5575 Portway, Bristol Sandwith I Cecil 9526 1953 12/09/1953 ST5178 Noted as Avonmouth Docks Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery - - 2912

  • ssp. vernus Grassland Very Rare The nominate but rarer subspecies with us. Found on lighter usually more acidic soils in arable fields and disturbed settings. It differs in its earlier flowering and less branched habit.

  • ssp. serotinus (Syme) Corb. Grassland Frequent The frequent plant of grassland and open woodland tracks; predominantly on heavy clay soils. Flowering from July onwards. More branched and the branches held at a wider angle from the stem.

the only subsp record we have 1989 31/08/1989 ST56557305 Clifton Observatory, St Vincents Rocks, Jack's Hole, comments may contain more location details, place may refer to name of 1km ref. Kitchen or Kitchen and others - Mark and or Clare 9922

  • Bartsia alpina L. (Alpine Bartsia) General

[Probably a mistake for Red Bartsia.]

BELLARDIA All.

  • Bellardia trixago (L.) All. (Mediterranean Lineseed) - [Sandwith, 1932 as Bartsia trixago, Glos. Fl.] General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean and North Africa; recorded at St Philip's Marsh in 1916 by M. Cobbe.

PARENTUCELLIA Viv.

  • Parentucellia viscosa (L.) Caruel (Yellow Bartsia) General Extinct A native to Britain but not in our area. Recorded at Clifton Down in 1948 by ?; at ST78 in 1970s by ?; and most recently at ST57D in 2000s by ? [BSBI records].

2 records 07/08/1948 ST566748 Durdham Down, Stoke Bishop Sandwith I Cecil 9526 09/07/1948 ST566748 Durdham Down, Stoke Bishop Sandwith I Cecil 9526

RHINANTHUS L.

  • Rhinanthus minor L. (Yellow-rattle) / Grassland Locally frequent in hay meadows and species-rich pastures. Also commonly used in 'wildflower' seed mixes and promoted for it's ability to weaken grasses and allow other more delicate species to thrive.

first 1917 07/06/1917 ST4373 Meadows at Walton-in-Gordano, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • ssp. minor Grassland Uncommon The nominate subspecies with the same range and distribution as the species.

  • ssp. stenophyllus O. Schwarz / Grassland Rare Differs from ssp. minor in it's taller, more branched and upright growing habit and its later flowering - coming into peak in around late June and July when the latter has died down. Recorded recently from Uphill in 2023 by D. Peters and R.D. Randall, growing amongst ssp. minor. Due to their later flowering period the two can grow side by side without interference from one another.

PEDICULARIS L.

  • Pedicularis palustris L. (Marsh Lousewort) 1912 Wetland

  • Pedicularis sylvatica L. ssp. sylvatica (Lousewort) - Grassland 1st record 1956 1956 ST656876 Tytherington, (Manor Farm) Thornbury County Sec. school 2559

LATHRAEA L.

  • Lathraea squamaria L. (Toothwort) / Woodland Scarce 1st record 11/05/1917 ST559732 Nightingale Valley, Leigh Woods Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • Lathraea clandestina L. (Purple Toothwort) - Woodland Very Rare A naturalised introduction of woodland besides water courses. Long known from Sea Mills. Also recorded besides the Hazel Brook and Blaise Castle Estate and recently at Bath.

1st record 1993 01/04/1993 ST732656 Lower Weston, Bath Higgins, Mr R.

OROBANCHE L.

also Orobanche caryophyllacea

  • Orobanche rapum-genistae Thuill. (Greater Broomrape) - General Very Rare 4 records 1986 24/06/1986 ST632581 Highbury Hill Woodman Mr. J.P. Julian 415 1992 08/05/1992 ST632582 Long Lands Avon Flora Project 2389 1992 16/08/1992 ST639622 Chelwood (North) Kitchen, Mr M.&.Mrs. 2008 24/01/2008 ST63285811 Highbury Hill, north, comments may have more precise location details. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Crouch Dr Helena J 1568

  • Orobanche elatior Sutton (Knapweed Broomrape) - Grassland Very Rare Very rare considering its host plant is so abundant. Found recently near Bath by S. Harding.

6 records 1984 08/07/1984 ST794880 Upper Kilcott Jepson - P 9431 1988 29/06/1988 ST601750 Eastville Hambler, Dr D.J. 1989 27/06/1989 ST349573 Hellenge Hill McDonnell, Mrs E. 1989 27/06/1989 ST350573 Bleadon Hill (Poultry Houses) McDonnell, Mrs E. 2010 11/07/2010 ST3457 Hellenge Hill. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Somerset Rare Plants Group - - 3687 2010 11/07/2010 ST349572 Hellenge Hill. Location is as given to BRERC as part of large dataset Somerset Rare Plants Group - - 3687

Simon Harding record of Knapweed Broomrape near Bath

  • Orobanche crenata (Bean Broomrape) recorded in the past at St Philip's Marsh in 1905 as O. speciosa - Brist. Fl. General

  • Orobanche ramosa (Hemp Broomrape) recorded in the past at St Philip's Marsh in 1905, 1907 and 1909 - Brist. Fl. and 1915 Glos. Fl. General

  • Orobanche hederae Duby (Ivy Broomrape) / General Uncommon Has become increasingly frequent in recent years perhaps as a result of climate change. Traditionally confined to more coastal parts but can now be seen across the region and is particularly frequent around Bristol where nearly every patch of Ivy results in the finding of this species. Traditionally believed to only host Helix hibernica but it just as frequently utilises H. helix and even other species of Ivy. Peculiarly, plants hosting on cultivated Eryngium have also been found in a landscaped area at Bristol by F.J. Rumsey.

1st record 1915 June 1915 ST564732 River Avon below Clifton Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • f. minor The typical form though extremely variable both in size and colour, probably largely dependent on the vigor and type of the host. The typical plant is purplish and relatively slender in appearance but robust plants also occur and yellowish forms grow around the Avon Gorge.

  • f. monochroa (Ivy Broomrape) - Tyntesfield, 2025, Paul Harrington see Facebook along with other records in the vicinity A yellow form. Possibly a naturalised introduction. Found at Tyntesfield. Found besides the River Frome at Eastville Park in 2026 during a BNS meeting.

  • Orobanche minor Sm. (Common Broomrape) / Grassland Uncommon Found in species-rich grassland, particularly in hay meadows where it hosts predominantly on Red Clover.

1st record 1915 June 1915 ST5575 Railway bank by The Avon, Clifton Sandwith I Cecil 9526

  • ssp. minor var. minor Grassland Uncommon The nominate form with the same range and distribution as the species.

14 records 1993 20/06/1993 ST504736 Portbury Lane Rooney, Mr P.

  • ssp. minor var. heliophila Thorogood & Rumsey (Brachyglottis Broomrape) General Very Rare Recorded on Senecio greyii cv Sunshine in a "flower bed of 'The Laurels' nursing home on Brockway, Nailsea in 2007 by T. Smith. At the time this variety was not described but it is clear from the description that the record belongs to this.

[Terry Smith's record is in Nature in Avon 2007 'Some botanical curiosities in Nailsea'.]

List:

  • Melampyrum pratense L. (ssp. pratense? - Stace) (Common Cow-wheat) - Woodland
  • Melampyrum pratense L. ssp. latifolium Schübl. & G. Martens (Common Cow-wheat) - [Yatton, 1892, Mrs. Gregory - Brist. Fl.] - not accepted by Stace but is by Kew.
  • Melampyrum pratense L. ssp. commutatum (Tausch ex A. Kern.) C.E. Britton. var. commutatum (Common Cow-wheat)
  • Euphrasia officinalis L. ssp. pratensis (Fr.) Schübl. & G. Martens (Stace) Euphrasia rostkoviana Hayne (Rostkov's Eyebright - Stace, Large-flowered Sticky Eyebright - NBN) Grassland
  • Euphrasia officinalis L. ssp. anglica (Pugsley) Silverside (English Eyebright - Stace, English Sticky Eyebright - NBN) /- Grassland
  • Euphrasia arctica Lange ex Rostrup ssp. borealis (F. Towns.) Yeo (Arctic Eyebright) - [Brist. Fl. as E. brevipila] (also recorded at Hutton Hill in 2025 by D. Hawkins (as E. arctica) - SRPG Newsletter 2025, p. 56.) Grassland
  • Euphrasia arctica ssp. borealis x E. nemorosa (Arctic x Common Eyebright) - [Brist. Fl. as E. nemorosa x borealis] Grassland
  • Euphrasia tetraquetra (Bréb.) Arrond. (Western Eyebright) Grassland
  • Euphrasia nemorosa (Pers.) Wallr. (Common Eyebright) / Grassland
  • Euphrasia nemorosa x E. confusa (Common x Confused Eyebright) - BSBI records Grassland
  • Euphrasia pseudokerneri Pugsley (Chalk Eyebright) - 2 records according to NBN [see file:///C:/Users/Dylan/Downloads/Euphrasia-pseudokerneri-2020-03-19.pdf] Grassland
  • Euphrasia confusa Pugsley (Confused Eyebright - Stace, Little Kneeling Eyebright - NBN) Grassland
  • Odontites vernus (Bellardi) (ssp. serotinus (Syme) Corb. and ssp. vernus) (Red Bartsia) / Grassland
  • Bellardia trixago (L.) All. (Mediterranean Lineseed - GBIF) - [Sandwith, 1932 as Bartsia trixago, Glos. Fl.]
  • Parentucellia viscosa (L.) Caruel (Yellow Bartsia) General
  • Rhinanthus minor L. (ssp. minor) (Yellow-rattle) / Grassland
  • Rhinanthus minor L. ssp. stenophyllus O. Schwarz (Yellow-rattle) / Grassland
  • Pedicularis palustris L. (Marsh Lousewort) 1912 Wetland
  • Pedicularis sylvatica L. ssp. sylvatica (Lousewort) - Grassland
  • Lathraea squamaria L. (Toothwort) / Woodland
  • Lathraea clandestina L. (Purple Toothwort) - Woodland
  • Orobanche rapum-genistae Thuill. (Greater Broomrape) - General
  • Orobanche elatior Sutton (Knapweed Broomrape) - Grassland
  • Orobanche crenata (Bean Broomrape) recorded in the past at St Philip's Marsh in 1905 as O. speciosa - Brist. Fl. General
  • Orobanche ramosa (Hemp Broomrape) recorded in the past at St Philip's Marsh in 1905, 1907 and 1909 - Brist. Fl. and 1915 Glos. Fl. General
  • Orobanche hederae Duby (Ivy Broomrape) / General
  • Orobanche hederae f. monochroa (Ivy Broomrape) - Tyntesfield, 2025, Paul Harrington see Facebook along with other records in the vicinity
  • Orobanche minor Sm. (ssp. minor var. minor - Stace) (Common Broomrape) / Grassland
  • Orobanche minor ssp. minor var. heliophila Thorogood & Rumsey (Brachyglottis Broomrape) - on Senecio greyii cv Sunshine - "flower bed of 'The Laurels' nursing home on Brockway - Terry Smith, 2007 - Some botanical curiosities in Nailsea - BNS Nature in Avon.

Species to add:

  • Melampyrum pratense L. ssp. latifolium Schübl. & G. Martens (Common Cow-wheat) - [Yatton, 1892, Mrs. Gregory - Brist. Fl.] - not accepted by Stace but is by Kew. /
  • Melampyrum pratense L. ssp. commutatum (Tausch ex A. Kern.) C.E. Britton. var. commutatum (Common Cow-wheat) /
  • Euphrasia officinalis L. ssp. anglica (Pugsley) Silverside (English Eyebright - Stace, English Sticky Eyebright - NBN) /- /
  • Euphrasia arctica Lange ex Rostrup ssp. borealis (F. Towns.) Yeo (Arctic Eyebright) - [Brist. Fl. as E. brevipila] (also recorded at Hutton Hill in 2025 by D. Hawkins (as E. arctica) - SRPG Newsletter 2025, p. 56.) /
  • Euphrasia nemorosa x E. confusa (Common x Confused Eyebright) - BSBI records /
  • Euphrasia pseudokerneri Pugsley (Chalk Eyebright) - 2 records according to NBN [see file:///C:/Users/Dylan/Downloads/Euphrasia-pseudokerneri-2020-03-19.pdf] /
  • Euphrasia arctica ssp. borealis x E. nemorosa (Arctic x Common Eyebright) - [Brist. Fl. as E. nemorosa x borealis] /
  • Bellardia trixago (L.) All. (Mediterranean Lineseed - GBIF) - [Sandwith, 1932 as Bartsia trixago, Glos. Fl.] /
  • Parentucellia viscosa (L.) Caruel (Yellow Bartsia) /
  • Rhinanthus minor L. ssp. stenophyllus O. Schwarz (Yellow-rattle) /
  • Orobanche crenata (Bean Broomrape) recorded in the past at St Philip's Marsh in 1905 as O. speciosa - Brist. Fl. /
  • Orobanche ramosa (Hemp Broomrape) recorded in the past at St Philip's Marsh in 1905, 1907 and 1909 - Brist. Fl. and 1915 Glos. Fl. /
  • Orobanche hederae f. monochroa (Ivy Broomrape) - Tyntesfield, 2025, Paul Harrington see Facebook along with other records in the vicinity /
  • Orobanche minor ssp. minor var. heliophila Thorogood & Rumsey (Brachyglottis Broomrape) - on Senecio greyii cv Sunshine - "flower bed of 'The Laurels' nursing home on Brockway - Terry Smith, 2007 - Some botanical curiosities in Nailsea - BNS Nature in Avon. /

Species which need checking

E. stricta = possiply E. pseudokernii E. curta E. curta var. glabrescens

Could occur:

  • Melampyrum pratense L. ssp. pratense var. hians Druce (Common Cow-wheat)
  • Euphrasia officinalis L. [ssp. pratensis (Fr.) Schübl. & G. Martens] x E. nemorosa = E. x glanduligera Wettst. (Rostkov's x Common Eyebright)
  • Euphrasia officinalis L. [ssp. pratensis (Fr.) Schübl. & G. Martens] x E. pseudokerneri Pugsley (Rostkov's x Chalk Eyebright)
  • Rhinanthus minor L. ssp. calcareus (Wilmott) E.F. Warb. (Yellow-rattle)