Family:

Rafflesiaceae

Habitat:

Maquis and garigue, sunny-dry places, mainly on white-flowered rock roses

Growth habit:

smarshy

Plant size:

4 - 8 cm high

Flower colour:

gyellow

Flowering time

April - July

Leaf characteristics:

ffleshy, scaly, ovate-oblong, yellow-orange or scarlet coloured, densely roof tile-like

Flower characteristics:

am stem end 5 - 10 flowers, lower flowers female, upper flowers male, perianth bright yellow, short-haired, four-lobed, 1 pistil with button-shaped end, 8 stamens united to form a column

Fruits:

fleshy, with numerous seeds

Special features:

The plant is fully parasitic, perennial and without green organs (leafless). The stem is densely covered with fleshy scales that are yellow below and orange-red above. Its shoots grow together in groups (nests). In addition to the Mediterranean region, it is also found in the Canary Islands. There is a risk of confusion between this species and the red rockrose parasite(Cytinus ruber), which parasitises on pink-flowered rockroses. However, its flowers are pink or white and it is generally less common than the yellow rockrose shrike.