Common Broomrape (Orobanche minor) is not that common in Bedfordshire...at least it's not commonly found, though I guess a number of plants are probably hidden away under the foliage of any taller plants in the immediate vicinity. It's a parasitic plant and 'plugs in' to the roots of clovers and other herbaceous plants in order to extract various nutrients. There is quite a show of the plant in one of the car park flower beds at Tesco's in Flitwick. It's been there for a few years and there were at least 50 specimens - probably a lot more - when I looked late this afternoon after taking my son to tennis. It's a good idea to look out for Waxwings in supermarket car parks in the winter....but Common Broomrape in the summer is not a bad find, either!
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