Epifagus americana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Genus:	Epifagus
Species:	E. americana
Binomial name
Epifagus americana Nutt.
Synonyms
Epiphegus americana (Nutt.) Epifagus virginiana (L.) W. Bartram) Leptamnium virginianum (L.) Raf.)

Common names; Beech drops, Beech-drops, Beechdrops

Epifagus americana is a parasitic plant which grows on the roots of beeches.

[edit] Description

Beechdrops lack both leaves and chlorophyll, they only have small pinkish flowers that are hard to distinct from the rest of the plant^[1]. The flowers can be either cleistogamous or chasmogamous, while the chasmogamous flowers are located near the tips of the stems the cleistogamous flowers are located closer to the stems base.

[edit] Distribution

In the northern hemisphere it flowers between August and October. It is a parasitic plant and must be located near its host which is the Beech Tree.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Epifagus virginiana (L.) Bart.". http://www.missouriplants.com/Pinkalt/Epifagus_virginiana_page.html. Retrieved 2008-10-22. 

• Blanchan, Neltje (2002). Wild Flowers: An Aid to Knowledge of Our Wild Flowers and Their Insect Visitors.. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. 
• Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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