Castilleja brevistyla
Short style owl's clover
(c) Konshau Duman, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Castilleja brevistyla (Short style owl's clover) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by pink/purple-red coloration and large lower lip pouches.
Short style owl's clover is a California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada foothills, San Joaquin Valley, and southern Coast Ranges in grassland habitats at elevations below 1,200 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces pink and purple-red bracts with linear flowers 15 to 28 millimeters long and distinctive pouched lower lips. Growing with slender stems 6 to 40 centimeters tall, it has a delicate, sparsely hairy appearance. Its leaves are linear, 20 to 60 millimeters long with few to no lateral lobes, creating a subtle, grass-like profile. The flowers feature a straight beak 4 to 6 millimeters long and purple-red pouches nestled within its intricate bract structure.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 22 sympatric species, distinguished by pink/purple-red coloration and large lower lip pouches
Habitat and range
Habitat: Grassland
Elevation: < 1200 m
California counties: Kern, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Kings, Monterey, Fresno, Madera, Merced, Tulare, San Mateo
Bloom period
Castilleja brevistyla blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Triphysaria: Castilleja lacks the sharp fold in flower throat; Triphysaria has abrupt crease above lower lip.; vs Trifolium: Castilleja has tubular flowers with colorful bracts; Trifolium has round heads of pea-like flowers and three leaflets.; vs Pedicularis: Castilleja has open forward beak and colorful bracts; Pedicularis has closed hood and fern-like leaves.; vs Orthocarpus: Castilleja has open beak you can see into; Orthocarpus has closed hood covering stamens completely.; vs Epilobium: Castilleja has tubular two-lipped flowers and colorful bracts; Epilobium has four separate petals arranged in cross.
Frequently asked questions
Is Castilleja brevistyla native to California?
Yes. Castilleja brevistyla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Castilleja brevistyla bloom?
Castilleja brevistyla blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Castilleja brevistyla grow?
Castilleja brevistyla occurs in Kern, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Kings, Monterey, Fresno, Madera, Merced and other counties, at elevations of < 1200 m.
What plant family does Castilleja brevistyla belong to?
Castilleja brevistyla is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Castilleja.
What habitat does Castilleja brevistyla grow in?
Castilleja brevistyla grows in Grassland.
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.