Triphysaria pusilla
Encyclopedia
Triphysaria pusilla is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family
known by the common name dwarf owl's clover. It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia
to central California
, where it grows in moist open habitat such as spring-wet grassland
s. It an annual herb producing a hairy brownish or purple-colored, multibranched stem up to about 20 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, red or purple leaves are up to 3 centimeters long and are divided into a few narrow, pointed lobes. The inflorescence
is a spike of flowers. Each flower has a beaklike yellow or purple upper lip and a wider lower lip which is divided into three tiny yellow or purple pouches.
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 dwarf owl's clover. It is native to the west coast of 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 central 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 grows in moist open habitat such as spring-wet 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. It an annual herb producing a hairy brownish or purple-colored, multibranched stem up to about 20 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, red or purple leaves are up to 3 centimeters long and are 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. Each flower has a beaklike yellow or purple upper lip and a wider lower lip which is divided into three tiny yellow or purple pouches.