Partly Parasitic
Red Bartsia is actually partly parasitic, gaining extra nutrients from the roots of its nearby host grasses. Red bartsia fastens onto the roots of the grasses near it and takes water and minerals from them, which actually makes the grasses around the plant weaker, which is why it is termed partly parasitic.

Stems

It's straggly and branched and its hard stems are often slightly red. They are very hairy and are upright, often un branched with there sometimes being branches in the upper part of the stem

Flowers
As its name suggests, the entire plant is vision of red and leafy flower spikes appear from June to September and you can often see it in fields or meadowland near to the sea..The flowers are purplish pink tubes and approximately the same length as the calyx (9mm)The lower lip somewhat deflexed, the anthers often protruding, they have a likeness to a tiny snapdragon. The flowers are in one-sided, slightly curved, leafy spikes. All the flowers that are on one stem will face the same direction.

Leaves
The leaves are green and are narrow and are toothed or regularly serrated and are opposite on the stem

Common Names
The English Common Name for the plant is "Tootthwort"

Uses - Explains Perhaps the Botanical Name - Greek for Tooth
This pretty plant, the Red Bartsia was once used as cure for toothache, which could explain why its botanical name is odons, which is the name for a tooth in Greek.

Bees - Wasps - Insects
The bees, wasps and Insects love this wildflower