Visit to Bloodstone Copse

I went on a short 6 mile walk about 2 weeks ago to see the Toothworts (Lathraea squamaria) in bloodstone copse on the Isle of Wight it was a really lovely sunny day but unfortunately I couldn't find the battery charger for my camera (which incidently is still missing...:skp but I've just received a couple of photo's by email from a lady who was on the walk as well

Toothworts?
Toothworts are a genus of 5 species in the Orobanchaceae family, the Common Toothwort is parasitical on the roots of alder and hazel but rarely beech (in bloodstone they are on hazel) they rely completely on there host for food and nourishment as they are entirely devoid of chlorophyll

 

More education.. love it. thanks Aesculus:gnthb:

 

I found some myself the other day Aesculus.

But nothing like the quantity you have there.:thumb:

 

Oh that was only one of about 20 patches all of a similar size and many smaller groups huddled round the bases of young hazel it was actually quite strange seeing so much of one plant that I'd never herd of:hehe:

although I have seen the less common Ivy Broomrape (Orobanche hederae)in Pelham woods but it was nowhere near as prolific. I don't no what it is about this family of plants which I find so fascinating but I would definitely like to learn more about them