Orobanche californica
Encyclopedia
Orobanche californica is a species of broomrape
known by the common name California broomrape. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
to Idaho
to Baja California
where it is a parasite
growing attached to the roots of other plants, usually members of the Asteraceae
, in many types of habitat. It has been noted to be associated with California goldenrod
(Solidago californica) and sagebrush
(Artemisia tridentata). This plant arises from a thick root and grows erect to a maximum height near 35 centimeters, with one stem or a cluster of several. As a parasite taking its nutrients from a host plant, it lacks leaves
and chlorophyll
. It is light to dark purple in color and coated with glandular hairs. The inflorescence
is an elongated or branching array of several flowers. Each flower is tubular, up to 5 centimeters long, and pale pink, yellowish, or purple in color, sometimes with stark veining. The fruit is a capsule containing minute seeds.
There are several subspecies, which are sometimes difficult to differentiate.
Subspecies:
Broomrape
Broomrape or Broom-rape is a genus of over 200 species of parasitic herbaceous plants in the family Orobanchaceae, mostly native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Some species formerly included in this genus are now referred to the genus Conopholis.The broomrape plant is small, from...
known by the common name California broomrape. It is native to western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
to Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
where it is a parasite
Parasitic plant
A parasitic plant is one that derives some or all of its sustenance from another plant. About 4,100 species in approximately 19 families of flowering plants are known. Parasitic plants have a modified root, the haustorium, that penetrates the host plant and connects to the xylem, phloem, or...
growing attached to the roots of other plants, usually members of the Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
, in many types of habitat. It has been noted to be associated with California goldenrod
Solidago californica
Solidago californica is a species of goldenrod known by the common name California goldenrod. It is native to western North America from Oregon through California to Baja California, where it grows in many types of habitat, including woodlands, valley grassland, and sometimes disturbed areas. It is...
(Solidago californica) and sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Artemisia tridentata is a shrub or small tree from the family Asteraceae. Some botanists treat it in the segregate genus Seriphidium, as S. tridentatum W. A. Weber, but this is not widely followed...
(Artemisia tridentata). This plant arises from a thick root and grows erect to a maximum height near 35 centimeters, with one stem or a cluster of several. As a parasite taking its nutrients from a host plant, it lacks leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
and chlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
. It is light to dark purple in color and coated with glandular hairs. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is an elongated or branching array of several flowers. Each flower is tubular, up to 5 centimeters long, and pale pink, yellowish, or purple in color, sometimes with stark veining. The fruit is a capsule containing minute seeds.
There are several subspecies, which are sometimes difficult to differentiate.
Subspecies:
- O. c. ssp. californica - native to coastal California, parasitizes GrindeliaGrindeliaGrindelia is a genus of plants native to the Americas belonging to the family Asteraceae, . G. squarrosa, a plant with bright yellow flowers indigenous to much of the United States, is commonly called curlycup gumweed. G. robusta, found in the western states, is a coastal scrub bush that is...
- O. c. ssp. feudgei - native to dry areas in California and Baja California, growing on sagebrush
- O. c. ssp. grandis - uncommon subspecies found in coastal areas in California
- O. c. ssp. grayana - found in moist mountainous areas on ErigeronErigeronErigeron is a genus of about 390 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution with the highest species diversity in North America, where 173 species occur....
and Aster - O. c. ssp. jepsonii - uncommon California subspecies found on assorted Asteraceae