Orobanche fasciculata
 
Clustered Broom-Rape

Whole Plant

Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park
24-June-2024

The caudex is often branched (commonly forked), and each branch transitions to a stem above ground.  Each stem contains multiple flowers with each flower borne on a long pedicel.  Note the scale leaves on the caudex and stem.

Fasciculata: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
caudex somewhat woody; NOT [caudex soft]
each branch of caudex bearing a few or several flowers; NOT [each branch of caudex bearing a single flower]
flowers borne on long pedicels; NOT [flowers sessile or nearly so, in a dense, spike-like cluster at the top of the thick stem]
flowers without bracts; NOT [1 or 2 long bracts beneath each flower]

 

Orobanche: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
plants glandular puberulent; NOT [plants glabrous throughout]
calyx nearly regular or cleft on both upper and lower sides; NOT [calyx deeply cleft on the lower side only]
lower lip of corolla as long as or longer than the upper; NOT [lower lip of corolla much shorter than the upper]
stamens included; NOT [stamens exserted]
placentae 4; NOT [placentae 2]