Conopholis

Description

Conopholis is a genus of plants without chlorophyll , perennial, parasitic , the family of the Orobanchaceae . It includes 7 species described and of these, only 2 accepted. Perennial plant, with stems erect, not branched, 8-29 cm tall, glabrous, cream to brown or black. Heterophilic leaves, the lower ones tightly imbricated and smaller than the upper ones, which are lanceolate to narrowly triangular, (7) 12-21 mm long and 3-7 (11) mm wide, apex usually markedly acute, glabrous . Inflorescence a compact cluster of imbricated bracts, each hugging a flower; tubular chalice, 3.3-5 mm long, irregularly 2 or 4-5-lobed, sometimes ventrally cleft, covered by bracts; tubular corolla, 7.5-15.5 mm long, semi-persistent, cream-colored; exerted stamens; stigma capitated to something depressed. Capsule 8-16 mm long, dark brown to black. The genus was described by Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Wallroth and published in Orobanches Generis Diaskene 78-79. 1825. 2 The type species is: Conopholis americana (L.) Wallr.