Persephone’s flower: Morphology and anatomy across the life cycle of the forest root holoparasite Lathraea squamaria (Orobanchaceae)

Key Points

• Lathraea squamaria exhibits distinct morphology throughout its life cycle, with variations in root structure and vascular system characteristics.
• Key features include reduced photosynthesis capacity and specialized adaptations for parasitism in the forest ecosystem.
• Observational analysis of anatomical changes reveals how the holoparasite navigates its life stages, affecting development and growth patterns.
• Understanding these characteristics supports insights into plant evolution and ecosystem interactions, particularly among parasitic species.