Orobanche californica subsp. condensa

Heckard

Madroño 22: 59, fig. 1I–L. 1973.

Endemic
Synonyms: Aphyllon californicum subsp. condensum (Heckard) A. C. Schneider
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 480. Mentioned on page 478, 481.

Plants simple or sparsely branched below ground, 5–10(–15) cm, portion proximal to inflorescence 3–8(–12) cm, slender or stout. Inflorescences corymbs, sometimes subcorymbose or subcapitate racemes, 2–6 cm; bracts pallid to pinkish tinged, drying brown. Pedicels 5–12 mm. Calyces 10–16(–20) mm, lobes whitish or yellow, tinged with purple, linear-subulate, 7–13 mm. Corollas sordid white to yellowish distally, 25–35 mm; tube relatively broad, usually abruptly widening slightly toward throat; throat 6–8 mm wide; lips 8–10(–12) mm, abaxial lobes lanceolate-oblong to narrowly triangular, 3–4 mm wide, apex bluntly acute or obtuse, sometimes retuse or emarginate, adaxial lobes broadly oblong, apex obtuse, rounded, or emarginate, rarely acute. 2n = 48.


Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils of dry bottomlands.
Elevation: 100–500 m.

Discussion

Subspecies condensa is found in the interior South Coast Ranges of southern California from San Benito to Santa Barbara counties. It appears to be host specific on Heterotheca villosa (Asteraceae).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.