Bellardia trixago var. trixago
Mediterranean lineseed
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Annual
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Bellardia trixago var. trixago (Mediterranean lineseed) is a California annual in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by Sole representative of a primarily Mediterranean genus, naturalized in California's coastal and valley regions.
Mediterranean lineseed is a naturalized annual found in disturbed areas, grasslands, and stabilized dunes at elevations below 940 meters. Flowering from April to August, this plant produces rose or pale purple flowers with white lower lips, blooming in delicate clusters up to 30 millimeters long. Growing with unbranched or occasionally branched stems 15 to 80 centimeters tall, it has an upright and slender form. Its lanceolate leaves measure 15 to 90 millimeters long, characterized by coarse crenate-dentate edges that give the plant a distinctively textured appearance. The fruit is small, hairy, and approximately 7 to 10 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Sole representative of a primarily Mediterranean genus, naturalized in California's coastal and valley regions
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, grassland, stabilized dunes
Elevation: < 940 m
Outside California: native to Mediterranean, western Asia, widely distributed as weed
Bloom period
Bellardia trixago var. trixago blooms Apr-Aug.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Flowers distinctly two-toned (pink hood, white lip), not uniformly colored or with colored bracts.; vs Parentucellia: Flowers pink-and-white bicolored, not solid yellow or red-purple throughout.; vs Collinsia: Upper lip pink, lower white (vs Collinsia white upper, colored lower).; vs Rhinanthus: Seed capsule wider than tall and squat, not inflated and balloon-like.; vs Triphysaria: Upper flower lip pink, lower white, not yellow-orange with purple markings.
Frequently asked questions
When does Bellardia trixago var. trixago bloom?
Bellardia trixago var. trixago blooms Apr-Aug.
What plant family does Bellardia trixago var. trixago belong to?
Bellardia trixago var. trixago is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Bellardia.
Is Bellardia trixago var. trixago invasive in California?
Bellardia trixago var. trixago is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Bellardia trixago var. trixago grow in?
Bellardia trixago var. trixago grows in Disturbed areas, grassland, stabilized dunes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.