Botanical name

Melasma scabrum

Family

Orobanchaceae

Common Name

Witche's Foxglove, Verfblommetjie

Description

Hemiparasitic perennial up to 50cm, shortly hairy, sparsely branched above. Leaves narrow, slightly toothed; trumpet-shaped flowers on long pedicels in lax racemes, pale yellow or cream with purple throat, up to 4cm across.

Hemiparasitic = plant that is able to provide some of its own nutrition but relies on a host for the rest.

Host plants: certains sedges and grasses.

Habitat

Damp mountain slopes

Flower Date

November to March