Orobanchaceae - broom-rape family
[information to be added]
Mount Desert Island is home to 7 species in 6 genera. Click on a link below or scroll down for more information.
Agalinis (1 species)
Agalinis paupercula - small-flowered agalinis (rare [see note 1 at bottom of page])
Epifagus (1 species)
Epifagus virginiana - beech-drops (occasional)
Euphrasia (2 species)
Euphrasia nemorosa - common eyebright (occasional)
Euphrasia randii - Rand's eyebright (uncommon)
Melampyrum (1 species)
Melampyrum lineare - American cow-wheat (occasional)
Pedicularis (1 species)
Pedicularis canadensis - forest lousewort (rare)
Rhinanthus (1 species)
Rhinanthus minor - little yellow-rattle (occasional)
| leaf arrangement | leaf blade margin | leaf blade length | petal color | |
| Agalinis | opposite, may be alternate on branches | entire | 20–450 mm | magenta |
| Epifagus | alternate | entire | 2–4 mm, reduced to scales | whitish, with purple-brown blotches or stripes |
| Euphrasia | opposite, alternate near top of stem | toothed | 2–13 mm | white to magenta to purple |
| Melampyrum | opposite | entire, toothed, lobed | 20–60 mm | white with yellow tip |
| Pedicularis | opposite | toothed | 50–150 mm | reddish to yellow |
| Rhinanthus | alternate | toothed | 20–60 mm, reduced to scales | yellow |
Agalinis (agalinis)
[information to be added]
Agalinis paupercula (small-flowered agalinis) - [information to be added]
(photo by Carol Muth; click on image to enlarge)
Epifagus (beech-drops)
[information to be added]
Epifagus virginiana (beech-drops) - [information to be added]
Euphrasia (eyebright)
[information to be added]
| habitat | petal color | flower length | leaf margin | |
| Euphrasia nemorosa | fields, roadsides | white | 5–10 mm | sharply toothed |
| Euphrasia randii | coastal headlands | white to magenta to purple | 2.5–4.5 mm | with rounded teeth |
Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright) - [information to be added]
click on image to enlarge)
Euphrasia randii (Rand's eyebright) - [information to be added]
Melampyrum (cow-wheat)
[information to be added]
Melampyrum lineare (American cow-wheat) - [information to be added]
(click on an image to enlarge)
Pedicularis (lousewort)
[information to be added]
Pedicularis canadensis (forest lousewort) - [information to be added]
(click on an image to enlarge)
Rhinanthus (yellow-rattle)
[information to be added]
Rhinanthus minor (little yellow-rattle) - [information to be added]
(click on an image to enlarge)
Note:
1. Frequency designations are from the paper “Vascular flora of the Acadia National Park region, Maine” by Craig W. Greene, Linda L. Gregory, Glen H. Mittelhauser, Sally C. Rooney, and Jill E. Weber, published in the spring 2005 issue (vol. 107, No. 930) of Rhodora: Journal of the New England Botanical Club.