What is "broom rape"

Rape \Rape\, n. [L. rapa, rapum, akin to Gr. "ra`pys, "ra`fys, G. r["u]be.] (Bot.) A name given to a variety or to varieties of a plant of the turnip kind, grown for seeds and herbage. The seeds are used for the production of rape oil, and to a limited extent for the food of cage birds.

Note: These plants, with the edible turnip, have been variously named, but are all now believed to be derived from the Brassica campestris of Europe, which by some is not considered distinct from the wild stock ( Brassica oleracea) of the cabbage. See Cole.

Broom rape. (Bot.) See Broom rape, in the Vocabulary.

Rape cake, the refuse remaining after the oil has been expressed from the rape seed.

Rape root. Same as Rape.

Summer rape. (Bot.) See Colza.

Broom rape \Broom" rape`\ (Bot.) A genus ( Orobanche) of parasitic plants of Europe and Asia. They are destitute of chlorophyll, have scales instead of leaves, and spiked flowers, and grow attached to the roots of other plants, as furze, clover, flax, wild carrot, etc. The name is sometimes applied to other plants related to this genus, as Aphyllon uniflorumand Aphyllon Ludovicianum.

n. Any of a genus ''Orobanche'' of parasitic plants of Europe and Asia. They are destitute of chlorophyll, have scales instead of leaf, and spiked flowers, and grow attached to the roots of other plants.