Kingdom Plantae Family Orobanchaceae Scientific name Triphysaria versicolor | Order Lamiales Genus Triphysaria Rank Species | |
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Similar Triphysaria, Phelipanche aegyptiaca, Orthocarpus, Castilleja exserta, Phtheirospermum japonicum | ||
Triphysaria versicolor is a species of flowering plant in the broomrape family known by the common name yellowbeak owl's-clover.
It is native to the west coast of North America from British Columbia to central California, where it grows in grassland habitat.
Description
Triphysaria versicolor is an annual herb producing a green or yellowish stem up to about 60 centimeters in maximum height. Like many species in its family it is a facultative root parasite on other plants, attaching to their roots via haustoria to tap nutrients. The leaves are up to 8 centimeters long and are divided into a few narrow, pointed lobes.
The inflorescence is a dense spike of flowers. Each flower has a white corolla 1 or 2 centimeters long with a beaklike, yellow-tinged upper lip and a wider lower lip which is divided into three pouches. The lower lip may have purple spots underneath.