Kopsiopsis hookeri
Small ground-cone
(c) John A Haskins, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3
Kopsiopsis hookeri (Small ground-cone) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by clear size and color differences in plant height, bract size, and inflorescence coloration.
Small ground-cone is a rare (CNPS 2B.3) California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and San Francisco Bay Region in Marin County, occurring in open woodland and mixed conifer forest at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering in April, this plant produces pale yellow to purple flowers with pale lips 3 to 4 millimeters long and erect margins. Growing 7 to 16 centimeters tall with a distinctive parasitic habit, it emerges from woodland forest floors. Its inflorescence reaches 3 to 7 centimeters long with bracts 7 to 11 millimeters in length and pale, tapered flower structures. The tiny seeds are approximately 1.5 millimeters long, characteristic of this uncommon ground-dwelling species.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; clear size and color differences in plant height, bract size, and inflorescence coloration
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open woodland, mixed conifer forest, generally on
Elevation: < 700 m
California counties: Marin, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Kopsiopsis hookeri blooms Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.3
How to tell it apart
vs Pleuricospora: Kopsiopsis has tightly overlapping scale-like bracts; Pleuricospora has separate, non-overlapping scales.; vs Aphyllon: Kopsiopsis is completely hairless with overlapping bracts; Aphyllon is hairy with separated bracts.; vs Sarcodes: Kopsiopsis has tightly overlapping bracts forming cone; Sarcodes has fleshy bell-shaped flowers along red stalk.; vs Pinus: Kopsiopsis flowers open to show tiny blooms; pine cones have woody scales without flowers.; vs Phelipanche: Kopsiopsis is hairless with tightly overlapping bracts; Phelipanche is hairy with separated bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kopsiopsis hookeri native to California?
Yes. Kopsiopsis hookeri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Kopsiopsis hookeri bloom?
Kopsiopsis hookeri blooms Apr.
Where in California does Kopsiopsis hookeri grow?
Kopsiopsis hookeri occurs in Marin, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, at elevations of < 700 m.
What plant family does Kopsiopsis hookeri belong to?
Kopsiopsis hookeri is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Kopsiopsis.
Is Kopsiopsis hookeri rare or endangered?
Kopsiopsis hookeri carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.3, state rank S1S2.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · 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.