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The paragraph about use by witches is problematical. Firstly, witches were definitely not druids. Secondly, it's well documented that the name broomrape is nothing to do with sexual penetration - rather, it's from the Latin rapum genistae, which translates as "a lump on a broom (Genista) bush". On the other hand, the application of alkaloid-containing plant material such as mandrake to the mucous membranes of the vagina does have the ring of truth. It's known that 16th century British witches applied such herbal compounds externally so that they were absorbed through the skin to give hallucinations of flying; the alkaloids would be absorbed even more effectively if applied in the way suggested here.

Thanks for explaining why it's called broomrape; the name is unfortunate, to say the least. -Ashley Pomeroy (talk) 22:37, 10 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I don't know what the process is for merging or whatnot, but there is an redirect from "broom rape" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broom_rape http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orobanchaceae. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.6.224.190 (talk) 04:28, 31 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Phelipanche appears to be a preferred name for certain Orobanche species. I think there should be a page for Phelipanche and also mention of this on this page. Petermr (talk) 16:52, 25 October 2016 (UTC). See [1] which states:[reply]

As a result, Weed Research will from now on use the names Phelipanche ramosa (L.) Pomel and P. aegyptiaca (Pers.) Pomel, instead of O. ramosa L. and O. aegyptiaca Pers., while maintaining the names Orobanche crenata Forsk., Orobanche cernua Loefl., Orobanche cumana Wallr., Orobanche minor Smith and Orobanche foetida Poir..

Petermr (talk) 16:57, 25 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Also Aphyllon? 02:42, 1 February 2021 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.204.254.86 (talk)