Aphyllon californicum
(c) Jo "Cirque" Stormer, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Aphyllon californicum is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by pale to pink-purple, 4-35 cm tall with crowded flowers.
California broomrape is a native perennial parasitic plant found in California's varied landscapes at elevations ranging from low to moderate heights. Flowering from spring to summer, this plant produces pale to pink-purple flowers with white to pink petals marked by darker veins, the corolla lips 10 to 14 millimeters long and widely flaring. Growing 4 to 35 centimeters tall with slender to stout stems that branch proximally or throughout, the plant appears glandular-puberulent and pale to pink-purple above ground. Its flowers are generally crowded, with calyxes 12 to 20 millimeters long in pale to pink tones and linear-triangular lobes. The plant features woolly anthers and distinctive stigma lobes with triangular shapes and recurved margins.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; pale to pink-purple, 4-35 cm tall with crowded flowers
How to tell it apart
vs Orobanche: Aphyllon and Orobanche are now considered the same genus; check current taxonomy.; vs Oenothera: Aphyllon is parasitic without green leaves; Oenothera has normal green leaves and grows independently.; vs Kopsiopsis: Aphyllon is hairy with separated bracts; Kopsiopsis is hairless with tightly overlapping bracts.; vs Pholisma: Aphyllon has upright purple flower spikes; Pholisma has round white flower heads at ground level.; vs Diplacus: Aphyllon is parasitic without green leaves; Diplacus has normal green leaves and colorful snapdragon flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aphyllon californicum native to California?
Yes. Aphyllon californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Aphyllon californicum belong to?
Aphyllon californicum is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Aphyllon.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.