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Boschniakia strobilacea

Boschniakia strobilacea A. Gray

California Groundcone

Orobanchaceae (Broom-Rape Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: BOST2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

An unusual plant, resembling a slender, dark purplish-brown pinecone, standing erect on ground with cupped, spoon-like bracts widest near blunt tip.

This perennial parasite flowers each season and causes large knobs to form on the roots of manzanita shrubs (Arctostaphylos) and madrone trees (Arbutus). Small Groundcone (B. hookeri), which grows near the Pacific Coast from Canada to northern California, is half the size of California Groundcone, with pointed bracts widest at about the middle.

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: CA , OR
Native Distribution: Southern Oregon south to southern California.
Native Habitat: In forests or brush associated with manzanita shrubs or madrone trees.

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Boschniakia strobilacea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Boschniakia strobilacea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Boschniakia strobilacea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-25
Research By: TWC Staff

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