Orobanche californica

Orobanche californica

Orobanche californica ssp. californica
Conservation status
Apparently Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Genus:	Orobanche
Species:	O. californica
Binomial name
*Orobanche californica* Cham. & Schltdl.

Orobanche californica, known by the common name California broomrape, is a species of broomrape.^[1] It is a parasitic plant growing attached to the roots of other plants, usually members of the Asteraceae.

Distribution

Orobanche californica is native to western North America from British Columbia and Idaho, through California and Nevada, to Baja California. ^[2] It is found in many types of habitats. It has been noted to be associated with California goldenrod (Solidago californica)^[3] and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata).^[4]

Description

This plant arises from a thick root and grows erect to a maximum height near 35 centimetres (14 in), 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.

Subspecies

There are several subspecies, which are sometimes difficult to differentiate. They include:^[2]

Orobanche californica ssp. californica — native to coastal habitats, central California to B.C., parasitizes Grindelia ^[5]
Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei — native to dry areas in southern and eastern California and Baja California mountains, growing on chaparral plants. ^[6]
Orobanche californica ssp. grandis — uncommon subspecies, found in coastal areas of Southern California and northern Channel Islands, to San Francisco Bay Area. ^[7]
Orobanche californica ssp. grayana — native to moist meadows/stream banks in the San Francisco Bay Area, northern Sierra Nevada, and Modoc Plateau; on Erigeron and Aster ^[8]
Orobanche californica ssp. jepsonii — uncommon, native from southern Sierra/San Joaquin Valley/ Santa Barbara County, north to Oregon border; found on assorted Asteraceae. ^[9]

Uses

The Paiute people of eastern California and the Great Basin used a decoction as a cold remedy and pulmonary aid. ^[10]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orobanche californica.