| Triphysaria versicolor | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Triphysaria |
| Species: | T. versicolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Triphysaria versicolor Fisch. & C.A.Mey. |
|
Triphysaria versicolor is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common name yellowbeak owl's clover. It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to central California, where it grows in grassland habitat. It an annual herb producing a green or yellowish stem up to about 60 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. The leaves are up to 8 centimeters long and are divided into a few narrow, pointed lobes. The inflorescence is a dense spike of flowers. Each flower has a white corolla 1 or 2 centimeters long with a beaklike, yellow-tinged upper lip and a wider lower lip which is divided into three pouches. The lower lip may have purple spots underneath.