Lehtokuiset

Lehtokuiset, scientifically known as Lathraea squamaria, is a species of non-photosynthetic flowering plant belonging to the Orobanchaceae family. It is a holoparasite, meaning it derives all its nutrients from a host plant. Its common name, "lesser Cuckoo-flower" or "toothwort," reflects its characteristic appearance.

This herbaceous perennial is native to Europe and parts of Asia. It is typically found in damp, shaded woodlands, hedgerows, and along riverbanks. The plant is characterized by its pale, scale-like leaves that are reduced in size and lack chlorophyll, a testament to its parasitic lifestyle. These scales are arranged spirally along the stem.

Lehtokuiset grows from a fleshy rhizome which it uses to attach to the roots of host trees and shrubs, most commonly in the families Rosaceae and Fabaceae. The host provides the lehtokuiset with water, minerals, and carbohydrates.

The flowering stem of lehtokuiset emerges in spring, typically from April to June. It bears a spike of distinctive, bilabiate flowers that are often a pale pink or lilac color, sometimes tinged with white. The flowers are adapted for pollination by insects, particularly bees. After flowering, the plant produces small capsules containing numerous seeds. Lehtokuiset is often difficult to spot as its vegetative parts remain largely underground for most of the year, becoming visible only when it flowers.