Triphysaria eriantha
Encyclopedia
Triphysaria eriantha is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family
known by the common names Johnny Tuck and butter and eggs. It is native to Oregon
and California
, where it grows in many types of habitat, becoming quite common in some areas. This is an annual herb producing a hairy purple stem up to about 35 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 green or purplish leaves are up to 5 centimeters long and are divided into a few narrow, pointed lobes. The inflorescence
is a spike of flowers. Each flower has a very thin, narrow upper lip which is purple in color, and a wide lower lip which is divided into three pouches. The color of the pouches depends on subspecies: the common ssp. eriantha has white and bright yellow pouches, and the less common coastal ssp. rosea has white pouches tinged with pink.
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 names Johnny Tuck and butter and eggs. It is native to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and 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 many types of habitat, becoming quite common in some areas. This is an annual herb producing a hairy purple stem up to about 35 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 green or purplish leaves are up to 5 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 very thin, narrow upper lip which is purple in color, and a wide lower lip which is divided into three pouches. The color of the pouches depends on subspecies: the common ssp. eriantha has white and bright yellow pouches, and the less common coastal ssp. rosea has white pouches tinged with pink.