Question: We recently found this plant growing in a roadside ditch around the corner from our house in Huntington, MA 01050. …
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Question
We recently found this plant growing in a roadside ditch around the corner from our house in Huntington, MA 01050. The area where it is growing is somewhat damp all the time and retains a lot of water after a heavy rain. We tried to key it out with four wildflower guides we own, with no luck. Images are uploaded. Any ID help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you.
Answer
Dear kuvik, your plant is Agalinis tenuifolia (slender-leaved agalinis), a member of the Orobanchaceae (broom-rape family). This species is a hemi-parasite (i.e., it parasitizes other plants but also uses photosynthesis to acquire its food). Note the long pedicels (flower stalks) and the absence of hairs inside the corolla (these are good identifying marks for this species).
