Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by elevation and branching pattern diagnostic.
Salt marsh owl's clover is a California native annual herb found in the Great Basin and northern Mojave Desert regions in inland alkaline flats at elevations of 600 to 1,900 meters. Flowering from June to September, this plant produces delicate white or pale flowers in dense, compact inflorescences. Growing with many slender branches that are mostly erect, reaching 15 to 30 centimeters tall, it forms a distinctive branching structure with a central spike. Its leaves are narrow and linear, positioned along the stems to support the dense flowering clusters. The small seeds, numbering 25 to 40 per plant, are compact and measure 1 to 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; elevation and branching pattern diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Inland alkaline flats
Elevation: 600-1900 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo, Lassen
Outside California: to southern Oregon, Utah
Bloom period
Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens blooms Jun-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Leaves completely unlobed and smooth-edged, not lobed or divided.; vs Cordylanthus: Found exclusively in saline or alkaline habitats like salt marshes.; vs Cressa: Has typical Orobanchaceae hooded flowers, not small white tubular Convolvulaceae blooms.; vs Triphysaria: Calyx barely notched at tip (~1 mm), not deeply divided.; vs Orthocarpus: Leaves entirely unlobed, not lobed or divided in any way.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens native to California?
Yes. Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens bloom?
Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens blooms Jun-Sep.
Where in California does Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens grow?
Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens occurs in Mono, Inyo, Lassen, at elevations of 600-1900 m.
What plant family does Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens belong to?
Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Chloropyron.
What habitat does Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens grow in?
Chloropyron maritimum subsp. canescens grows in Inland alkaline flats.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Chloropyron maritimum subsp. maritimum — Salt marsh bird's-beak
- Chloropyron maritimum subsp. palustre — Point reyes salty bird's-beak
- Chloropyron molle — Soft bird's beak
- Chloropyron molle subsp. hispidum — Hispid salty bird's-beak
- Chloropyron molle subsp. molle — Soft salty bird's-beak
- Chloropyron palmatum — Palmate salty bird's-beak
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.