Broom-Rape Family. — Orobanchaceæ
Beech-drops. Epiphegus Virginiana.
Found growing from the roots of beech trees, in August, through October.
The tough, branching stalk, from 6 to 12 inches high, is brown, inclining to reddish.
There are no leaves, and only a few dry, and unnoticeable scales occur occasionally on the stalk.
The flowers are of two kinds, the upper sterile ones have long, small, 4-notched tubes, and are dull purplish and yellowish-brown in color; the lower seed-bearing flowers appear always as small buds. They are set on short foot-stems, and are irregularly scattered along the branches.
This is a parasite, drawing its life from the root of the beech; where it looks like a dry or dead twig sticking up from the ground. It emits a most unpleasant odor.