NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Epifagus virginiana

Beechdrops, Beech-drops

Scientific Name:	Epifagus virginiana
Genus:	Epifagus
Species Epithet:	virginiana
Common Name:	Beechdrops, Beech-drops
Plant Type	Herb/Wildflower
Life Cycle	Annual (Herbs Only)
Plant Family	Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	0-1 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White, Purple, Brown
Light:	Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day, Less than 2 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Dry, Moist
Bloom Time:	August, September, October, November
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Moist to rather dry forests under Fagus grandifolia. Common throughout NC.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Nothing Specified
Leaf Type:	Leaves needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	No Apparent Leaves
Life Cycle:	Annual (Herbs Only)
Wildlife Value:	No known wildlife value
Landscape Value:	Not Recommended for home landscapes
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	Parasitic on the roots of American Beech, Fagus grandifolia.
Plant Tom Harville 26 Oct '08
Plants Tom Harville 26 Oct '08
Buds Tom Harville 3 Oct '08
Bloom Tom Harville 3 Oct '08
Seed Pods Tom Harville 26 Oct '08
Flowers are white with purple-brown stripes. Somewhere in North Carolina! Bettina Darveaux
Close-up of stems in mid October Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Last year's dried stems Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
This achlorophyllous plant has multiple stems and small scale-like leaves. The inflorescence is a spike of scattered purple striped flowers. Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record