Biology:Castilleja exserta

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Short description: Species of flowering plant

Castilleja exserta
Castilleja exserta 8031.JPG

Apparently Secure (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Orobanchaceae
Genus: Castilleja
Species:
C. exserta
Binomial name
Castilleja exserta
(Heller) Chuang & Heckard

Castilleja exserta (formerly Orthocarpus purpurascens) is a species of plant in the genus Castilleja which includes the Indian paintbrushes. Its common names include purple owl's clover, escobita, and exserted Indian paintbrush.[2]

This species is native to the Southwestern United States in various habitats of California , Arizona, and New Mexico; and to Northwestern Mexico.[3] It is an introduced species in Hawaii.

Description

Foliage and stem, before flowering.

Castilleja exserta is an annual herb about 100–450 millimetres (4–18 in) tall with a hairy stem covered in thready leaves. Like other related Castilleja plants, this species is a hemiparasite, deriving some of its nutrients directly from the roots of other plants by infiltrating them with haustoria. As a result, its own leaves are small and reduced.

Although this species is variable in appearance and easily hybridizes with other Castilleja species, it generally bears a brightly colored inflorescence of shaggy pink-purple or lavender flowers. The thin, erect bracts are usually tipped with the same color, giving the inflorescence the appearance of a paintbrush.[4]

Varieties

Varieties include:

  • Castilleja exserta var. exserta — pale purple owlclover.[5][6]
  • Castilleja exserta var. latifolia — wideleaf Indian paintbrush; endemic to coastal California.[6][7][8]
  • Castilleja exserta var. venusta — endemic to California: Mojave Desert, southern San Joaquin Valley.[6][9][10][11]

Bay checkerspot butterfly host

This is a crucial host plant for the Bay checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha bayensis), which is a threatened species that is endemic to the San Francisco Bay region in California.

The seeds were harvested by indigenous peoples of California for food.[12]

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q5049903 entry