Orobanche californica
Introduction '''''Orobanche californica''''', known by the common name '''California broomrape''', is a species of broomrape. 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. It is found in many types of habitats. It has been noted to be associated with California goldenrod (''Solidago californica'') and sagebrush (''Artemisia tridentata'').
Description This plant arises from a thick root and grows erect to a maximum height near , 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:*''Orobanche californica'' ssp. ''californica'' — native to coastal habitats, central California to B.C., parasitizes ''Grindelia'' *''Orobanche californica'' subsp. ''condensa''  — endemic to California, in the Southern California Coast Ranges and western Transverse Ranges. *''Orobanche californica'' ssp. ''feudgei'' — grows on chaparral plants, native to dry areas in Sierra Nevada and Transverse Ranges in California, and Peninsular Ranges in southern California and northern Baja California. *''Orobanche californica'' ssp. ''grandis'' — uncommon subspecies endemic to California, found in coastal areas of San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County, and on Santa Rosa Island of the northern Channel Islands. *''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'' *''Orobanche californica'' ssp. ''jepsonii'' — Jepson's broomrape, Jepson's california broom rape, uncommon below , native from southern Sierra/San Joaquin Valley/ Santa Barbara County, north to Oregon border; found on assorted Asteraceae.
Uses The Paiute people of eastern California and the Great Basin used a decoction as a cold remedy and pulmonary aid.
References
External links * Calflora Database: ''Orobanche californica'' (California broomrape,  California orobanche)* Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of ''Orobanche californica''* USDA Plants Profile: ''Orobanche californica'' (California broomrape)* UC CalPhotos gallery − ''Orobanche californica''