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Comandra umbellata, also known as bastard toadflax, is a plant native to North America that belongs to the sandalwood family. This herb is characterized by its narrow leaves, small white flowers clustered at the top of the plant, and a single-seeded fruit. A notable feature of Comandra umbellata is its parasitic nature; it can attach to the roots of other plants using its creeping roots. The name "bastard toadflax" is also used in Europe for plants in the genus Thesium, which share similar parasitic traits and flower structures.12

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