Yellow Bartsia

This 50 centimeter high plant with its thin stiff branches flowers in abundance in September.

 

The Yellow Bartsia (Odontites lutea) has chlorophyl and thus can provide its own energy and nutrients through photosynthesis. However, it shows also parasitic behaviour: it attaches itself to the roots of neighbouring plants to take minerals and water from them. Especially grasses are attacked, but also vineyards can suffer severely from the presence of Yellow bartsias.