We have spotted one-flowered broomrape (Aphylon uniflorum) on open south-facing damp slopes a couple of times.   It is also called one-flowered cancer root and naked broomrape and it is in the Orobanche family.    It is a parasitic herb, feeding on stonecrop and other plants.    It is short, with a bare stalk and has a purple tube-like flower.

We have encountered clusters of one-flowered broomrape, each with a single flower while hiking off-trail routes in May or June.   They are closely related to clustered broomrape (Aphyllon fasciculatum), which is more common in our area, and also yellow clustered broomrape (Aphyllon franciscanum).

There is one hard-to-get-to spot where they could be observed in abundance at the end of the first week of June.    This will be a planned trip for next year.