Cordylanthus orcuttianus
Encyclopedia
Cordylanthus orcuttianus is a rare species of flowering plant in the broomrape family
known by the common name Orcutt's bird's beak. It is native to Baja California
and southern San Diego County, California
, where few populations are known. It is a plant of coastal scrub habitat. This annual herb grows to a maximum of half a meter in height and is green to reddish-green in color and coated in stiff hairs. The leaves are up to 8 centimeters long and dissected into narrow segments. The inflorescence
is a very dense cluster of flowers surrounded by bract
s which are divided into narrow segments like the leaves. Each flower is up to 2.5 centimeters long and is made up of a yellow-tipped white fibrous pouch enclosed by a calyx of sepal
s.
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 Orcutt's bird's beak. It is native to Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
and southern San Diego County, California
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
, where few populations are known. It is a plant of coastal scrub habitat. This annual herb grows to a maximum of half a meter in height and is green to reddish-green in color and coated in stiff hairs. The leaves are up to 8 centimeters long and dissected into narrow segments. 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 very dense cluster of flowers surrounded by bract
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
s which are divided into narrow segments like the leaves. Each flower is up to 2.5 centimeters long and is made up of a yellow-tipped white fibrous pouch enclosed by a calyx of sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s.