Orthocarpus pachystachyus
Shasta orthocarpus
(c) Trevor Van Loon, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Orobanchaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.1
Orthocarpus pachystachyus (Shasta orthocarpus) is a native California herb in the Orobanchaceae family, recognized by largest flowers and bracts in the genus, distinctive 4-lobed bracts.
Shasta orthocarpus is a rare (CNPS 1B.1) California native annual found in eastern Klamath Ranges and adjacent western Cascades in northern Siskiyou County in openings within sagebrush scrub at elevations below 1,000 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces delicate rose-colored flowers with a distinctive curved beak and a slightly pouched lower lip, approximately 25 to 30 millimeters long. Growing with simple, stout stems 10 to 20 centimeters tall and appearing somewhat scabrous and sparsely soft-hairy, it has an upright and compact form. Its leaves are complex, with distal leaves featuring 3 to 5 linear lobes extending to 30 to 50 millimeters long, and prominently net-veined bracts with pink-lavender margins. The fruit is small, measuring 5 to 7 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; largest flowers and bracts in the genus, distinctive 4-lobed bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Openings in sagebrush scrub
Elevation: < 1000 m
Bloom period
Orthocarpus pachystachyus blooms May-Jun.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.1
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 pachystachyus native to California?
Yes. Orthocarpus pachystachyus is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Orthocarpus pachystachyus bloom?
Orthocarpus pachystachyus blooms May-Jun.
What plant family does Orthocarpus pachystachyus belong to?
Orthocarpus pachystachyus is in the Orobanchaceae family, genus Orthocarpus.
Is Orthocarpus pachystachyus rare or endangered?
Orthocarpus pachystachyus carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.1, state rank S1.
What habitat does Orthocarpus pachystachyus grow in?
Orthocarpus pachystachyus grows in Openings in sagebrush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Orthocarpus sp.
- Orthocarpus bracteosus — Bracted owl's clover
- Orthocarpus cuspidatus — Broad scaled owl's clover
- Orthocarpus cuspidatus subsp. copelandii
- Orthocarpus cuspidatus subsp. cryptanthus
- Orthocarpus cuspidatus subsp. cuspidatus — Siskiyou mountains orthocarpus
- Parentucellia latifolia — Broadleaf glandweed
- Parentucellia sp.
- Pedicularis attollens — Little elephant's head
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.