Family: črnobinovke (Scrophulariaceae)
Flowering time: maj–september
Size: 20–50 cm
Habitat: open forests, forest edges, shrubs
Woodland cow-wheat (Melampyrum nemorosum) has purple bracts supporting the flowers, a long-haired calyx and a bright yellow tubular corolla. The hemiparasites are semiparasites. From host plants they draw water and nutrients, but unlike true parasites they themselves perform photosynthesis. For the genus Melampyrum, variable appearance is characteristic – specimens of the same species that flower in different seasons or thrive at different elevations look quite different.
The woodland cow-wheat is common across much of Slovenia, though it largely avoids the hilly regions in the west, northwest and north of the country.
