Purple Toothwort
Various parts of the gardens but easily seen in the
Azalea Walks & Water Gardens
This unusual little plant is a native of the European mainland
and is commonly known as Purple Toothwort. The purple
flowers, which appear in spring, are the only parts visible above
ground. Unlike most other plants, it has no green leaves to
manufacture food using sunlight. Instead, it gains its nourishment
living off the roots of trees. This parasitic perennial is usually
found living, in damp soils, on the roots of Willow, Poplar and
Alder.
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