Clandestine parasite

Isn't this an unusual looking thing?


It's Lathraea clandestina or purple toothwort. It's parasitic on the roots of alder, poplar and willow but also carnivorous on insects.

I DO like unusual things. This one isn't mine alas, but was in a clump at The Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh.

We were in visiting the Amorphophallus, but I've already blipped a pic of that and I'm sure there are LOADS of blips of it in flower around..

So after we visited THE plant, (and got co-opted to help out a little), daughter and I enjoyed a leisurely wander round the gardens, looking at less obvious attractions.