U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
California

Humbodlt Bay Owl's-Clover
(Castilleja ambigua ssp. humboldtiensis )
Scrophulariaceae

Humboldt Bay owl's-clover; Photo Copyright Brother Alfred Brousseau. Courtesy of St. Mary's College of California.
Photo Copyright Brother Alfred Brousseau. Courtesy of St. Mary's College of California.

Description: Annual, fleshy, few branched herb, 4-12 inches (1-3dm) tall. Leaves spear-shaped to ovate, sessile, 3/8 - 2 inches (1-5cm) long. Inflorescence is spike-like, 1 1/8 - 4 3/4 inches (3-12cm) long, 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3-4cm) wide. The corolla is pink to rose-purple, 5/8 - 1 inch (15-25mm) long, with the lower lip teeth 1/8 inch (2-3mm) long. The upper lip is beak-like, 3/16 inch (4-5mm) long. Seeds are brownish, 1/8 inch (2-2.5mm) long.

Distribution:

Habitat: Salt marshes. Elevation 0 - 9.6 feet.

Flowering Period: Blooms April - August.

Similar Plants:

Status: BLM Sensitive, California Native Plant Society List 1B

 

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  Field Office: Arcata