Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus
Short-bracted bird's-beak, Short-Bracted Bird's-Beak
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus (Short-bracted bird's-beak) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by short bracts relative to flowers diagnostic.
Short-bracted bird's-beak is a rare (CNPS 4.3) California native annual found in southern Sierra Nevada Mountains in granitic openings within Jeffrey-pine and pinyon/juniper forest and sagebrush scrub at elevations of 850 to 2,560 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces flowers with pale green to yellow-green corollas 8 to 17 millimeters long in compact clusters. Growing with slender stems 10 to 30 centimeters tall, it develops delicate branching structures with distinctive bracts. Its leaves are narrow and relatively sparse, with short, bristly outer bracts 5 to 10 millimeters long that are partially lobed in the upper half. The plant's inflorescences are compact, containing 2 to 12 flowers spread across 10 to 20 millimeters in width.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; short bracts relative to flowers diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Granitic openings in Jeffrey-pine and pinyon/juniper forest, sagebrush scrub
Elevation: 850-2560 m
Bloom period
Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus blooms Jul-Sep.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 subsp. brevibracteatus native to California?
Yes. Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus bloom?
Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus blooms Jul-Sep.
What plant family does Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus belong to?
Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Cordylanthus.
Is Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus rare or endangered?
Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
What habitat does Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus grow in?
Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. brevibracteatus grows in Granitic openings in Jeffrey-pine and pinyon/juniper forest, sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.