Phtheirospermum japonicum is a small East Asian wildflower with pale pinkish-purple, two-lipped flowers, and it does not grow wild in the United States. It makes its own food but also partly feeds on the roots of other plants, which has made it a favorite lab plant for scientists studying how parasitic plants work.
Appearance
- Growth form
- An annual , 8–28 in (20–70 cm) tall. It makes its own food by photosynthesis but also taps the roots of a wide range of host plants.
- Leaves
- Opposite, deeply cut leaves. The whole plant is covered in sticky glandular hairs.
- Flowers
- Pale pinkish-purple, two-lipped tubular flowers about 0.8 in (2 cm) long, one in each upper leaf axil, in September and October in Japan.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Sunny grasslands
- Mountain roadsides
- Range
- Native to Japan, Korea, most of China, and the Russian Far East.
Name and classification
- About the name
- It is now the only species in its genus, in the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae); a few southwest Chinese species once placed here have been shown to belong elsewhere. Also known by the older name Phtheirospermum chinense.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- Its short life cycle, small size, and ability to self-pollinate make it a convenient model for laboratory research on parasitic plants.
More species to explore
Record what you meet and build your own collection
Your photos are kept with their date and place, and you can fill regional albums one species at a time.