Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri
(c) Andrey Zharkikh, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by glandular-sticky texture and flower color diagnostic.
Kingii's owl-clover is a California native annual found in southern Modoc Plateau and southeastern Sierra Nevada in open pinyon and juniper woodlands and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 1,200 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces rosy-lavender to dull purple-red flowers 15 to 25 millimeters long with a distinctively glandular-sticky inflorescence. Growing 10 to 60 centimeters tall with a gray-green stem tinged with red, it has an erect and branching form. Its leaves are generally linear, 10 to 25 millimeters long, arranged along the stem with a delicate, sparse structure. The plant produces small ovoid seeds approximately 2 to 2.5 millimeters long with a deeply netted pale brown surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; glandular-sticky texture and flower color diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open pinyon/juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 1200-3200 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo, Lassen
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri blooms Jul-Sep.
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 kingii subsp. helleri native to California?
Yes. Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri bloom?
Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri blooms Jul-Sep.
Where in California does Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri grow?
Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri occurs in Mono, Inyo, Lassen, at elevations of 1200-3200 m.
What plant family does Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri belong to?
Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Cordylanthus.
What habitat does Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri grow in?
Cordylanthus kingii subsp. helleri grows in Open pinyon/juniper woodland, sagebrush scrub.
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.