Erect herb 10–40 cm high, glandular hairy with hairs on the inflorescence 0.4–1 mm long, spreading. Leaves ovate, 10–15 mm long, 1–3 mm wide; bracts smaller than leaves. Calyx segments 5–8 mm long, bifid with long linear lobes, appressed to corolla or slightly spreading, sometimes also with a minute abaxial sepal present; corolla 9–18 mm long, pale blue to whitish, purple-veined, with yellow patches sometimes at insertion of filaments, densely covered by straight glandular hairs, tube initially ascending then decurved, upper lip longest, lobes irregularly toothed; stamen filaments pubescent in lower third, thickened, anthers drying purple to black; style pale purple. Capsule 5–8 mm long. Flowers mostly spring.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, Brid, VVP, VRiv, RobP, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, DunT, NIS, EGL, HSF, HNF, Strz. Also naturalised WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Native to Europe. Scattered widely across the state except for the north-west, and locally common in the far north-east. Recorded as parasitic on a wide range of garden and pasture plants.
Source:
Barker, W.R. (1999). Orobanchaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 539–541. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
