Aphyllon validum subsp. howellii

Howell's broomrape, Howell's Broomrape, Howell's broomrape

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Howell's broomrape is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native perennial found in volcanic and serpentine landscapes of California in open chaparral at elevations of 200 to 1,700 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces flowers with delicate, dense external hairs at the corolla sinuses. Growing as a slender plant 6 to 20 centimeters tall with a distinctively enlarged base, it emerges with fine glandular hairs on thin stalks. Its small stems feature short, generally three-celled glandular hairs that contribute to its subtle, intricate structure. As a root parasite, Howell's broomrape lacks typical leaves and instead attaches to host plant roots, drawing nutrients through specialized connections.

Habitat: Volcanic and serpentine slopes, open chaparral, on

Bloom period: Jun-Sep

Elevation: 200-1700 m

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.