Cordylanthus rigidus
Rigid bird's beak
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Cordylanthus rigidus (Rigid bird's beak) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by 25 congeners; bristly, non-glandular; flowers massed 5-15 in compact head-like clusters; widespread c/s cismontane CA.
Rigid bird's beak is a California native annual found in California's interior mountain ranges in open grasslands and dry meadows. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces yellow flowers with distinctive maroon markings, with blooms 12 to 20 millimeters long featuring a white pouch. Growing 30 to 150 centimeters tall with yellow-green stems often tinged with red and appearing somewhat bristly, it develops a distinctive architectural form. Its leaves are slender and linear, often rolled inward, typically 10 to 40 millimeters long with occasional sparse lobes. The plant's compact flower clusters feature outer bracts 5 to 20 millimeters long, generally with three lobes, creating an intriguing structural appearance.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 25 congeners; bristly, non-glandular; flowers massed 5-15 in compact head-like clusters; widespread c/s cismontane CA
Habitat and range
California counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Fresno, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, Tuolumne, Santa Barbara, Mono, Mariposa, Sutter
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 rigidus native to California?
Yes. Cordylanthus rigidus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Cordylanthus rigidus grow?
Cordylanthus rigidus occurs in Kern, Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Fresno, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside and other counties.
What plant family does Cordylanthus rigidus belong to?
Cordylanthus rigidus is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Cordylanthus.
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.