Bastard Toadflax (Comandra umbellata) is a hemiparasitic plant, deriving some nutrients from the roots of nearby plants and the rest via photosynthesis.

It is the only species in this Genus.

The seeds were used by indigenous peoples as food.

#toadflax #comandra #hemiparasites

Late for #WildflowerHour -- Red Bartsia, Coney Banks, Chatham, starting to flower -- less numerous than the Yellow Rattle which dominates most of the best bit of the site, which is a local nature reserve, calcareous grassland and scrub, close to centre of population. Eyebright is also present here. Gives me the opportunity to share again this excellent account of #hemiparasites by Jake Dalzell. #Botany #Grasslands https://irishplants.org/blog/2022/12/27/hemiparasitic-plants-in-irish-grasslands/