Orobanche californica

Orobanche californica
Orobanche californica ssp. californica
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Orobanchaceae
Genus:	Orobanche
Species:	O. californica
Binomial name
Orobanche californica Cham. & Schltdl.
Synonyms
List Aphyllon californicum(Cham. & Schltdl.) A.Gray Myzorrhiza californicaRydb. Myzorrhiza hutchinsonianaDavidson Orobanche grayana var. nelsoniiMunz Orobanche grayana var. violacea(Eastw.) Munz Phelypaea californica(Cham. & Schltdl.) G.Don Phelypaea eriantheraS.Watson

Orobanche californica, known by the common name California broomrape, is a species of broomrape. ^[2] 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. ^[3] It is found in many types of habitats. It has been noted to be associated with California goldenrod (Solidago californica) ^[4] and sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). ^[5]

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: ^{[6] [3]}

• Orobanche californica ssp. californica — native to coastal habitats, central California to B.C., parasitizes Grindelia ^[7]
• Orobanche californica subsp. condensa — endemic to California, in the Southern California Coast Ranges and western Transverse Ranges. ^[8]
• 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. ^[9]
• 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. ^{[10] [11]}
• 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 ^[12]
• Orobanche californica ssp. jepsonii — Jepson's broomrape, Jepson's california broom rape, uncommon below 2,200 metres (7,200 ft), native from southern Sierra/San Joaquin Valley/ Santa Barbara County, north to Oregon border; found on assorted Asteraceae. ^[13]

Uses

The Paiute people of eastern California and the Great Basin used a decoction as a cold remedy and pulmonary aid. ^[14]

References

1. NatureServe. "Orobanche californica". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
2. ITIS Report: Orobanche californica
3. USDA . accessed 5.15.2013
4. "Broom-rape Plants in Orange County, California". Archived from the original on 2008-05-15. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
5. "Parasitic Flowering Plants". Archived from the original on 2006-07-04. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
6. Calfora: Orobanche californica — subspecies and varieties
7. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Orobanche californica ssp. californica
8. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Orobanche californica subsp. condensa
9. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei
10. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Orobanche californica ssp. grandis
11. Calflora: Distribution map of Orobanche californica ssp. grandis
12. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Orobanche californica ssp. grayana
13. Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Orobanche californica ssp. jepsonii
14. University of Michigan, Dearborn—Native American Ethnobotany species account for Orobanche californica . accessed 5.15.2013

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