Orobanche pinorum Conifer broomrape PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Orobanche pinorum is a PERENNIAL. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Root
Edible Uses:

The whole plant is edible, raw or cooked[172].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Laxative Sedative

The plant is laxative and sedative[172].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. It requires a well-drained soil and should succeed in sun or shade. A fully parasitic plant lacking in chlorophyll, it is entirely dependant upon its host plant for obtaining nutrient[200]. Its natural hosts are coniferous trees[60]. Modern research shows that the plant is not parasitic on coniferous plants but uses Holodiscus discolor as its host (personal communication from M. Ellis )

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

Plant Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in a pot containing a host plant. The seed is probably best sown as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. It might also be possible to sow the seed in situ around a host plant.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (British Columbia), United States (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California (north & central))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Orobanche ammophyla	Lie Dang	Biennial	0.4	-		LMH	FSN	M	2	2
Orobanche californica	California Broomrape, Jepson's broomrape	Perennial	0.1	0-0		LMH	FSN	M	2	1
Orobanche cernua	Nodding broomrape	Perennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	FSN	M	1	0
Orobanche crenata	Bean Broomrape	Annual	1.2	6-10	F	LMH	N	DM	0	2	2
Orobanche fasciculata	Cancer Root, Clustered broomrape	Perennial	1.0	0-0		LMH	FSN	M	1	2
Orobanche grayana		Perennial	0.0	-		LMH	SN	M	1	1
Orobanche ludoviciana	Broomrape, Louisiana broomrape	Perennial	1.5	0-0		LMH	FSN	M	1	1	0
Orobanche minor	Lesser Broomrape, Hellroot	Perennial	0.5	0-0		LMH	SN	M	0	0	0
Orobanche tuberosa	Ground Cone	Perennial	0.1	-		LMH	FSN	M	1	1
Orobanche uniflora	Oneflowered broomrape	Perennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	SN	M	1	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

Geyer.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Mark Ellis	Tue Oct 26 20:08:15 1999

I'm personally opposed to growing plants outside their native habitats since they can become weeds that have few controls. This would be of particular concern regarding parasitic plants like O. pinorum, regardless of their edibility. The species of western North America might become parasitic on plants in your region and pose a threat to your native ecosystems, or it could possibly become an economic threat to agricultural plants there. Much money is spent on research and efforts to eradicate other species in this family that in fact do parasitize agricultural plants in the US, Europe, and the Middle East.


Mark Ellis	Tue Oct 26 20:08:15 1999

Hello,

Just a note. I have done some research on Orobanche pinorum (pine broomrape) and have found no good evidence that it is parasitic on conifers, although this was the assumption when it was named in the last century, and it has been passed down for many years. You can still find references to coniferous hosts in many floras, yet the only host I have been able to confirm is Holodiscus discolor. And I have found no confirmation of gymnosperm hosts by any species in the Orobanchaceae. I will have a paper published on this species soon in the journal MadroÃ±o.

Orobanche pinorum - Geyer.