What is it ... purple under the poplars?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLR_2_zy7u6_FTajrZ0tocCX49tYLXSCqBSgTK9zYrPNx12fn_TTF2KwlplntkEpB0K-KxvN_KZRngq8NXOgVJ9YWYa2hMnHReIEbpKjrfFAhirQH4Ylndditmuv-AetYxHcFFFHd2bVb/s400/lathraea+clandestina+(13)c-600-8.jpg)
A mass of flowers amongst last year’s fallen leaves. It is the Purple Toothwort (
Lathraea clandestina). A parasite living on the roots of poplar trees.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp8kOPLWzCAPGXYPkiLUi4T9r3dHwhR7UA-XDwa7vNOzS-lP3Eoi4vBf-GdDaegVaT5nLHioXKrTWOQAxBjIim1JfiozoR8BqOh7df0_lzPspQU-Aay5NQx8pEAt5OU7y8F0aJ7ZMuza0/s1600/lathraea+clandestina+%252819%2529b-600-8.jpg)
It is an underground plant, you see only flowers and, sometimes, the ends of branches coming above ground. Flower buds appear from between white scales.