Triphysaria micrantha
Encyclopedia
Triphysaria micrantha is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family
known by the common name purplebeak owl's clover. It is endemic to California
, where it is known from the grassland
s of the Central Valley and the foothills to the east and west. It an annual herb producing a hairy, glandular, purple-colored stem up to about 15 centimeters in maximum height. Like many species in its family it is a facultative root parasite
on other plants, attaching to their roots via haustoria
to tap nutrients. Its greenish to red-purple leaves are up to 2.5 centimeters long and are sometimes divided into a few narrow, pointed lobes. The inflorescence
is a spike of flowers a few centimeters in length. Each flower has a narrow purple upper lip and a wide lower lip which is divided into yellowish or white pouches, often with purple markings on the lower parts.
Orobanchaceae
Orobanchaceae, the broomrape family, is a family of flowering plants of the order Lamiales, with about 90 genera and more than 2000 species. Many of these genera were formerly included in the family Scrophulariaceae sensu lato...
known by the common name purplebeak owl's clover. It is endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where it is known from the grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s of the Central Valley and the foothills to the east and west. It an annual herb producing a hairy, glandular, purple-colored stem up to about 15 centimeters in maximum height. Like many species in its family it is a facultative root 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...
on other plants, attaching to their roots via haustoria
Haustorium
In botany, a haustorium is the appendage or portion of a parasitic fungus or of the root of a parasitic plant that penetrates the host's tissue and draws nutrients from it. Haustoria do not penetrate the host's cell membranes.Fungi in all major divisions form haustoria...
to tap nutrients. Its greenish to red-purple leaves are up to 2.5 centimeters long and are sometimes divided into a few narrow, pointed lobes. 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 a spike of flowers a few centimeters in length. Each flower has a narrow purple upper lip and a wide lower lip which is divided into yellowish or white pouches, often with purple markings on the lower parts.