Cordylanthus rigidus subsp. rigidus

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: annual · Native

Rigid bird's beak is a California native annual herb found in central Sierra Nevada, central western California, western Transverse Ranges, and San Gabriel Mountains in open foothill woodland, chaparral margins, and conifer forest at elevations below 2,700 meters. Flowering from July to September, this plant produces flowers with a distinctive corolla 12 to 20 millimeters long in compact inflorescences 20 to 40 millimeters wide. Growing with stems that feature elaborate bracts up to 20 millimeters long with complex lobing, particularly in the lower half of the plant. Its bracts have a linear to oblong middle lobe, with tips that are either linear or slightly wider and occasionally notched. The inflorescence typically contains 5 to 15 individual flowers, creating a dense and intricate botanical display.

Habitat: Open foothill woodland, chaparral margins, conifer forest

Bloom period: Jul-Sep

Elevation: < 2700 m

Bioregions: c&amps SN, CW (exc n SnFrB), WTR, SnGb.

California counties: Kern, San Diego, San Benito, Monterey, Mariposa, Santa Cruz, Tulare, Fresno, Santa Clara, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Madera, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Riverside, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, Alameda, Orange, Yolo

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