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Common Toothwort

Lathraea squamaria

Common Toothwort is a special plant that grows in shady forests. It has pretty purple flowers and doesn't have green leaves because it gets its food from tree roots!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Common Toothwort is a pale, fleshy plant with thick, purplish-pink stems that emerge from the ground. It lacks green leaves, instead having numerous pale, scale-like structures. Its bell-shaped, purplish-pink flowers cluster around the upper stem, making it look quite unlike typical green plants.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderLamialesFamilyOrobanchaceaeGenusLathraea
Common Toothwort
flowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badgemedicinal trait badge
Common Toothwort

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Even though it looks strange, bumblebees love its sweet nectar in early spring!

It spends most of its life hidden completely underground, only popping up to bloom!

Its name comes from the tooth-like shape of the scales on its stem, not its roots!

This sneaky plant doesn't make its own food; it 'borrows' it from nearby tree roots!

Special abilities

Ability

Root Siphon

Common Toothwort can 'drink' nutrients directly from the roots of other trees, allowing it to grow without sunlight.

Ability

Underground Networker

Common Toothwort has extensive underground rhizomes that help it spread and store energy for many years.

Ability

Early Bird Bloomer

Common Toothwort emerges and flowers very early in spring before host trees fully leaf out, getting a head start.

Measurements & details

Height
10-25 cm
Spread
5-15 cm
Flower Size
1-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Spring (March-May)
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

parasitizes

Hazel

Corylus avellana

Draws nutrients from hazel roots.

parasitizes

Field Elm

Ulmus minor

Feeds on the root systems of elm trees.

parasitizes

Aspen

Populus tremula

Attached to the roots of aspen trees.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Attracted to its early spring flowers.

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Visits its nectar-rich blossoms.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Don't touch or eat any plants without asking an adult first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Common Toothwort?

10-25 cm

How wide does Common Toothwort spread?

5-15 cm

How big are the flowers on Common Toothwort?

1-1.5 cm

When does Common Toothwort bloom?

Spring (March-May)

Is Common Toothwort edible?

Yes

Is Common Toothwort toxic?

None

What is Common Toothwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Common Toothwort pollinated?

Insect

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