Semi-desert.  Woodlands, meadows.  Spring, summer.
Near Corona Trail, Utah, June 7, 2007.

The plant pictured at left is certainly an Orobanche, but I am less certain of its specific epithet.  The keys for A Utah Flora and Intermountain Flora indicate the plant shown at left is O. ludoviciana variety cooperi.  The more up-to-date Synthesis indicates that this name is a synonym for O. cooperi (or O. cooperi variety cooperi).  This species may also include what is often named O. multiflora.  It is all a bit perplexing.  As Stanley Welsh (the author of A Utah Flora) indicates in trying to separate varieties of O. ludoviciana, "none of the diagnostic criteria seem to hold...."

Orobanchaceae are uncommon but unmistakable when you do find them.  And when you do find one, be sure to look around for more.  They tend to be quite common in selected areas.  Orobanchaceae lack chlorophyll and have large roots which surround host roots and gain nourishment from them; they are thus "parasitic".  Each species of Orobanche is usually parasitic on roots of just certain plants; O. cooperi  often is parasitic on Asteraceae and the plant shown at left, which has almost finished its flowering, was growing close to Gutierrezia sarothrae. 

The genus name is derived from the Greek "orobos" ("vetch") and "anchein" ("to strangle") referring to the habit of some Orobanche of being parasitic on legumes (a number of legumes are commonly called "vetch").  The pictured species was first named by Asa Gray and then given its present name by Amos Heller.  James Cooper was a California physician and naturalist. (More biographical information.)

Semi-desert.  Woodlands, meadows.  Spring, summer.
Near Corona Trail, Utah, June 7, 2007.
Cannonball Mesa, June 12, 2007.