Orthocarpus imbricatus
Imbricate owl's clover
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Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Orthocarpus imbricatus (Imbricate owl's clover) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by entire leaves and flowers hidden by bracts.
Imbricate owl's clover is a California native annual found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and Cascade Ranges in mountain meadows and grassy or rocky slopes at elevations of 1,600 to 2,400 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces rose-colored flowers with yellow lower lips, partially hidden by intricately net-veined bracts. Growing 10 to 35 centimeters tall with simple or branched stems that are slightly hairy, it has a slender, upright form. Its lanceolate leaves measure 20 to 50 millimeters long and remain entire, providing a subtle green backdrop to the distinctive floral structure. The flower's unique corolla features a rose-colored upper section with a conspicuous hooked tip and a moderately pouched yellow lower lip with tiny triangular teeth.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; key features are entire leaves and flowers hidden by bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Mountain meadows, grassy or rocky slopes
Elevation: 1600-2400 m
California counties: Trinity, Alpine, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Lassen, Tehama, El Dorado
Outside California: to British Columbia
Bloom period
Orthocarpus imbricatus blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Castilleja: Orthocarpus has closed hood hiding stamens; Castilleja has open beak you can see into from front.; vs Triphysaria: Orthocarpus has closed hood and 4-lobed cup; Triphysaria has open beak with throat fold.; vs Cordylanthus: Orthocarpus has simple closed hood; Cordylanthus has lower lip middle lobe rolled under creating bird-beak look.; vs Dicranostegia: Orthocarpus has simple closed hood; Dicranostegia has lower lip middle lobe rolled under like Cordylanthus.; vs Chloropyron: Orthocarpus found in mountains; Chloropyron found in coastal salt marshes with succulent leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Orthocarpus imbricatus native to California?
Yes. Orthocarpus imbricatus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Orthocarpus imbricatus bloom?
Orthocarpus imbricatus blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Orthocarpus imbricatus grow?
Orthocarpus imbricatus occurs in Trinity, Alpine, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Tuolumne, Humboldt, Lassen and other counties, at elevations of 1600-2400 m.
What plant family does Orthocarpus imbricatus belong to?
Orthocarpus imbricatus is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Orthocarpus.
What habitat does Orthocarpus imbricatus grow in?
Orthocarpus imbricatus grows in Mountain meadows, grassy or rocky slopes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.