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soft bird's-beak
Scientific Name: Cordylanthus mollis
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Soft Bird's Beak (Cordylanthus mollis)
Cordylanthus mollis, commonly known as soft bird's beak, is an annual herb endemic to California.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cordylanthus mollis A. Gray
- Common Name: Soft bird's beak
- Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape family)
- Rank: Species, Subspecies
- Synonyms:
- Cordylanthus mollis ssp. mollis
- Chloropyron molle (A. Gray) A. Heller
- Chloropyron molle ssp. molle
Distribution and Habitat
- Endemic to California.
- Predominantly found in the upper reaches of salt grass/pickleweed marshes at or near the limits of tidal action.
- Specific locations mentioned include Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano counties.
Ecological Role
- It is a hemiparasitic plant.
- Periodic habitat disturbance is critical to its persistence.
- Listed as an endangered species, facing threats in its native habitat.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Annual herb (forb/herb).
- Described as a gray-green annual herb.
Conservation Status
- Listed on the U.S. Endangered Species List.
- Classified as endangered in California.
- California Rare Plant Rank 1B.2: Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California and Elsewhere - Fairly threatened.
Further Information
- USDA, NRCS. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
- CDFW BIOS GIS Dataset
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Center for Plant Conservation