- broomrape
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/broohm"rayp', broom"-/, n.any of various parasitic plants, esp. of the genus Orobanche, living on the roots of broom and other plants. Cf. broomrape family.[1570-80; partial trans. of ML rapum genistae tuber of the broom plant]
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▪ plantany member of about 150 species of the genus Orobanche and its family (Orobanchaceae, order Lamiales), which contains 99 genera (including Boschniakia) and about 2,000 species in all. All are parasitic herbs, with little green tissue (i.e., they have little chlorophyll and do not produce their food photosynthetically to any great extent); instead, they draw nourishment from the roots of other plants by means of small suckers.The broomrape family, which occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, is characterized by the nongreen colour of the plants, irregularly shaped flowers, scales in place of leaves, and one-chambered capsules that contain numerous minute seeds. The plants may be yellowish, brownish, purplish, or white.* * *
Universalium. 2010.