Natural History Photographs


Hemiparasitic plants rely of other plants for their supply of water and inorganic nutrients, but they are green and thus are able to photosynthesize. They may either attach to the branches of their host, or to their roots. In the latter case, the parasitic relationship is not immediately visible in the field.




on branches of the host
Decaisnina cf. signata
Authority:(F.Muell. ex Benth.) Tiegh. 1895
Synonyms:Loranthus signatus F.Muell. ex Benth. 1867
Northern Territory, Top End - Australia; 23 December 2008.
Viscum album
Authority:Linnaeus, 1753
Nederlands:Maretak
English:Mistletoe
Deutsch:Mistel
Norsk:Leaved
Svenska:Mistel
Français:Gui
Italiano:vischio bianco, vischio comune
Español:almuérdago, arfuego, liga, liga, liria, marojo, muérdago, muérdago blanco, tiña,
visca, visco, viscol
Göreme (Nevşehir), Türkiye; 1 May 2015.
Epen, the Netherlands; 20 April 2011. Aizac, France; 25 July 2011.




on roots of the host
Osyris alba
Authority:Linnaeus, 1753
Italiano:cassia poetica, ginestrella comune, linaiola del Monte Rotondo,
osiride bianca
Español:bojecillo, casia poética, guardalobo, retama blanca, retama loca
Göksü delta (Mersin), Türkiye; 25 April 2015.
Melampyrum pratense
Authority:Linnaeus, 1753
Nederlands:Hengel
English:Common Cow-wheat
Deutsch:Wiesen-Wachtelweizen
Norsk:Engmarimjelle
Svenska:Ängskovall
Français:Mélampyre des prés
Italiano:melampiro dei boschi, spigarola bianca
Español:bigotera suiza, perritos, trigo de vaca, trigo de vacas silvestre,
trigo vacuno
Huizen, the Netherlands;
18 May 2007.
Pedicularis spec.
Nufenenpass, Switzerland;
25 July 2007.