Kopsiopsis hookeri

Small ground-cone

Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: perennial · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 2B.3

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.

Habitat: Open woodland, mixed conifer forest, generally on

Bloom period: Apr

Elevation: < 700 m

Bioregions: NCoR, SnFrB (Marin Co.)

California counties: Marin, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara

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