Orobanche cooperi  Desert Broomrape
PERENNIAL.  A root parasite on nearby plants.  Has no chlorophyll.  The short stalk, up to about 6 cm tall, is crowded with purple and white hairy tubular flowers with purple throats.  In the Empires, rare on sandy semi-shaded flat ground along small well-vegetated washes.  Blooms in spring and sometimes again after summer rains; the photo at lower right is of an unusual late autumn plant.
FAMILY:  Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family)