Orobanchaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) plants that are at least partially parasitic with specialized roots that penetrate other plants to absorb their water and nutrients; includes Bartsias, Beechdrops, Broomrapes, Cow-wheat, Eyebrights, False Foxgloves, Louseworts, Paintbrushes, and Yellow Rattle.

Flowers solitary to clustered (racemes, corymbs or spikes), at the end of the stem and its branches, and where the leaf joins the stem (axils). Individual flowers each usually bilaterally symmetrical, and producing both pollen and seeds. Sepals usually 5, fused. Petals usually 5, fused to form 2 lips with overlapping lobes. Stamens usually 4, 2 long and 2 short, a fifth stamen occasionally present and sterile. Stalks of stamens attached to petals, pollen-producing structures (anthers) arrow-shaped with 2 chambers, opening by longitudinal slits. Carpels 2, fused, ovary located above point of attachment of the other flower parts (superior), stigma 2-lobed. Nectar disk usually present around the base of the ovary. Fruit a capsule.

Leaves alternate and spiral, or opposite, simple, often lobed to dissected, sometimes reduced to scales, entire to variously toothed. Leaf lobes and veins usually arising from both sides of the central vein (pinnate). Stipules absent. Chlorophyll absent and root structure that facilitates parasitism single and large in plants that are completely parasitic; plant species that are partially parasitic have chlorphyll, and multiple specialized roots for parasitism. The leaves or the entire plant may turn black upon drying due to a chemical called orobanchin.