Chloropyron molle subsp. molle

Soft salty bird's-beak, Soft Salty Bird's-Beak

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2 · Endangered

Soft salty bird's-beak is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native annual found in northern central Coast Ranges and the delta region of the Great Valley in coastal salt marshes at elevations below 10 meters. Flowering from July to November, this plant produces delicate flowers with a densely tomentose corolla pouch and tube. Growing with generally few branches ascending from the middle of soft-hairy stems, it reaches 5 to 15 centimeters in height. Its leaves and stems are characterized by a soft, hair-covered texture that helps it blend into its marshy habitat. The seeds are small, measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long, allowing for easy dispersal in the salty coastal environment.

Habitat: Coastal salt marshes

Bloom period: Jul-Nov

Elevation: < 10 m

Bioregions: n CCo, deltaic GV.

California counties: Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, Solano

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