| Victoria's owl-clover | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Orobanchaceae |
| Genus: | Castilleja |
| Species: | C. victoriae |
| Binomial name | |
| Castilleja victoriae Fairbarns & J.M.Egger | |
Castilleja victoriae is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common names Victoria's owl-clover and Victoria's paintbrush. [3] [4]
Castilleja victoriae is endemic to a small region of southeastern Vancouver Island in British Columbia (near its namesake city of Victoria) and a single site in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. There are four or less extant populations in existence. [5]
Stem leaves are alternate, lobed, and hairy, with no basal rosette. Upper leaves are deeply lobed, becoming purple-tipped floral bracts. Sepals form a five-lobed calyx, with petals forming two-lipped flowers measuring 10-18mm in length. Lower calyx lips are yellow with white tips, and upper lips are a creamy white. Fruits are brown capsules with two cells that split when ripe to reveal 30-70 seeds. [6] [7]
Castilleja victoriae is found exclusively in vernal pools and seeps associated with Garry oak ecosystems within 50 metres of the coast. [5] Four of its historical occurrences have been extirpated since the turn of the last century due to habitat loss and degradation. [8]
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