Cordylanthus eremicus subsp. eremicus

Desert bird's-beak, Desert Bird's-Beak

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: annual · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 4.3

Desert bird's-beak is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native annual found in northern Mojave Desert Mountains and near Cushenbury in sagebrush scrub and pinyon/juniper woodland at elevations of 1,000 to 2,800 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces lavender to pale pink flowers with distinctive purple blotches, with outer bracts featuring maroon-colored thickened tips. Growing with delicate stems that bear sparse scabrous characteristics, it develops a distinctive inflorescence with uniquely shaped bracts. Its leaves and stem structure support the plant's adaptation to harsh desert environments, with intricate surface textures that help minimize water loss. The seed features a complex surface with papillate textures between net-like patterns, contributing to its survival in arid conditions.

Habitat: Sagebrush scrub, pinyon/juniper woodland

Bloom period: Aug-Oct

Elevation: 1000-2800 m

Bioregions: n SnBr (near Cushenbury), n DMtns.

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