Cordylanthus capitatus
Yakima bird's-beak
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Cordylanthus capitatus (Yakima bird's-beak) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by head-like inflorescence and glaucous coloring.
Yakima bird's-beak is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native annual found in western bioregions in open conifer forest and juniper woodland at elevations of 1,800 to 2,150 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces maroon flowers with yellow tips in dense head-like spikes 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with a glaucous-green or gray-purple stem that is densely covered in glandular and non-glandular hairs. Its leaves are linear, entire, and 20 to 40 millimeters long. The seed capsule contains 4 to 6 nearly kidney-shaped seeds approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long with a shallow net-like surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; head-like inflorescence and glaucous coloring are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open conifer forest, juniper woodland
Elevation: 1800-2150 m
California counties: Modoc, Los Angeles
Outside California: to central Washington, Idaho
Bloom period
Cordylanthus capitatus blooms Aug-Oct.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Dicranostegia: Cordylanthus has flowers in short dense spikes under 2cm; Dicranostegia has flowers scattered singly along stem.; vs Castilleja: Cordylanthus has closed hood with rolled lower lip; Castilleja has open beak without rolled lip.; vs Dittrichia: Cordylanthus has tubular two-lipped flowers; Dittrichia has yellow daisy flowers with many ray petals.; vs Chloropyron: Cordylanthus has palmately divided leaves; Chloropyron has succulent undivided leaves in salt marsh habitat.; vs Deinandra: Cordylanthus has tubular two-lipped flowers; Deinandra has yellow daisy flowers with notched ray petals.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cordylanthus capitatus native to California?
Yes. Cordylanthus capitatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cordylanthus capitatus bloom?
Cordylanthus capitatus blooms Aug-Oct.
Where in California does Cordylanthus capitatus grow?
Cordylanthus capitatus occurs in Modoc, Los Angeles, at elevations of 1800-2150 m.
What plant family does Cordylanthus capitatus belong to?
Cordylanthus capitatus is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Cordylanthus.
Is Cordylanthus capitatus rare or endangered?
Cordylanthus capitatus carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.