The Parasite

This strange looking plant has appeared in our garden again. It is a Broomrape, probably Orobanche elatior, which can't make its own food and is parasitic on the roots of Knapweed. Some years ago, I grew some Greater Knapweed plants, as the flowers are attractive to insects, and Goldfinches like the seed heads. A few years later the Broomrapes appeared near the Knapweed plants, suggesting  seeds must have been lurking in the ground or were blown in, which  then germinated close to the Knapweeds. The flowers have  yet to open fully on this specimen,so I may blip it again when it is more advanced.