Plants : OrobanchaceaeFerns and Flowering Plants

Lathraea clandestina L.

Purple Toothwort

4170.jpg
Lathraea clandestina

Description: This species, introduced from the European continent, is related to our native toothwort (Lathraea squamaria). In Ireland the Purple Toothwort is only known from gardens where it was deliberately introduced. Like the native species it is a parasite of trees, usually willows. In summer, it produces very attractive bunches of red-purple from an underground stem.

All names: Lathraea clandestina L.

Distribution Map from NBN: Lathraea clandestina at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Lathraea clandestina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

 Hackney, P., 2026. Lathraea clandestina. L.. [In] Flora of Northern Ireland.
https://habitas.org/flora/species.php?item=4170. Accessed on 2026-11-02.