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Orobanchaceae
Epifagus

not marked as a favorite taxon Epifagus virginiana (Linnaeus) W.P.C. Barton. Common name: Beechdrops. Phenology: Aug-Nov. Habitat: Moist to rather dry forests under and parasitic on Fagus grandifolia. Distribution: NS west to WI, south to ne. FL, Panhandle FL, and LA; disjunct in the mountains of e. Mexico (TAM).

Glossary (beta!)

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, Fl7, FNA17, G, Il, K4, Mex, Mi, Mo3, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Tx, Va, W, WH3, WV, Thieret (1971); = Leptamnium virginianum (L.) Raf. — S; Orobanche virginiana Linnaeus. Basionym: Orobanche virginiana L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Epifagus virginiana - FNA17

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Heliophily ⓘ: 2

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image #1 of Epifagus virginiana© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Epifagus virginiana© Ann Walter-Fromson | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Epifagus virginiana© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Epifagus virginiana© Scott Ward; Cleistogamous flowers | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Epifagus virginiana© Maurice H. Vaughan | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Epifagus virginiana© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Epifagus virginiana© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Epifagus virginiana© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Epifagus virginiana© Radford, Ahles and Bell | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Clumped, erect, chlorophyll-lacking perennial found under beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) in moist to dry forests.

Stems: Stems stiff, sometimes branched, cream or tan-colored (often with purple streaks), bearing small brownish scales rather than leaves. Stems darken with age and persist through winter.

Leaves:

Inforescence:

Flowers: Two types of flowers are tucked into the scales: closed bud-like flowers on lower parts of the stem, and open tubular flowers with 4 short, flaring lobes in upper parts. Both are cream-colored with purple streaks.

Fruits: Fruit (produced only by closed flowers) an oval capsule filled with minute seeds.

Comments: E. virginiana is an obligate parasite on the roots of beech trees.

Height: 4-18 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Clumped, erect, chlorophyll-lacking perennial found under beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) in moist to dry forests.

stems: Stems stiff, sometimes branched, cream or tan-colored (often with purple streaks), bearing small brownish scales rather than leaves. Stems darken with age and persist through winter.

leaves:

inflorescence:

flowers: Two types of flowers are tucked into the scales: closed bud-like flowers on lower parts of the stem, and open tubular flowers with 4 short, flaring lobes in upper parts. Both are cream-colored with purple streaks.

fruits: Fruit (produced only by closed flowers) an oval capsule filled with minute seeds.

comments: E. virginiana is an obligate parasite on the roots of beech trees.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:



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