Orobanche minor Sm.

Perennial; stem 10–40–(50) cm high, arising from an orange-brown swollen base, slender or stout, with crisped, glandular hairs. Scale lvs 1–2 cm long, with glandular hairs as on stem, or often lowest scales glabrous; lower scales ovate or oblong-ovate, obtuse to subacute, dense; upper scales lanceolate, acute to acuminate, scattered. Bracts similar to upper stem scales. Calyx 8–15 mm long, deeply divided into 2 lateral segments, each unequally and deeply 2-fid with aristate lobes, with glandular hairs. Corolla 10–17 mm long, with glandular hairs outside, bluish mauve, especially veins, whitish towards base or occasionally all yellow; back of tube fairly evenly curved; upper lip erose, emarginate; lower lip ± equally 3-lobed, erose. Stamens inserted c. 2 mm above base of corolla; filaments ± hairy. Style glabrous; stigma lobes pink to purplish, occasionally yellow. Capsule 6–9 mm long, ellipsoid.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Aug.–Jan.