Dicranostegia orcuttiana
Orcutt's bird's-beak, baja bird's-beak, Baja Bird'S-Beak
(c) James C. Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.1
Dicranostegia orcuttiana (Orcutt's bird's-beak) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by Monotypic genus endemic to coastal San Diego County and northern Baja California.
Orcutt's bird's-beak is a rare (CNPS 2B.1) California native annual found in southern coastal Southern California in southwestern San Diego County coastal scrub habitats at elevations below 350 meters. Flowering from March to August, this plant produces white flowers with yellow-tipped corollas 18 to 25 millimeters long, forming distinctive hooded structures that dramatically enclose the anthers and style. Growing 10 to 50 centimeters tall with an often red-tinged green stem that is generally much-branched and stiff-hairy, it develops a distinctive root system with yellow roots. Its alternate leaves are sessile, typically 3 to 6 centimeters long with 8 to 11 pinnate lobes, creating a complex and delicate foliage structure. The plant produces small dark brown seeds with a netted, wavy-crested seed coat measuring 1 to 1.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Monotypic genus endemic to coastal San Diego County and northern Baja California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal scrub
Elevation: < 350 m
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Dicranostegia orcuttiana blooms Mar-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.1
How to tell it apart
vs Cordylanthus: Middle lobe of lower lip stands erect, not rolled under and folded back.; vs Castilleja: Flowers have a closed hood enclosing stamens, not open with exposed stamens.; vs Triphysaria: Leaves pinnately lobed (feather pattern) not palmately divided (fingers from palm).; vs Orthocarpus: Flower spikes elongated over 3 cm, not dense and compact.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dicranostegia orcuttiana native to California?
Yes. Dicranostegia orcuttiana is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Dicranostegia orcuttiana bloom?
Dicranostegia orcuttiana blooms Mar-Aug.
What plant family does Dicranostegia orcuttiana belong to?
Dicranostegia orcuttiana is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Dicranostegia.
Is Dicranostegia orcuttiana rare or endangered?
Dicranostegia orcuttiana carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Dicranostegia orcuttiana grow in?
Dicranostegia orcuttiana grows in Coastal 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.