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seaside bird's beak
Scientific Name: Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. littoralis
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names: CA (seaside bird's-beak)
Seaside Bird's-beak (Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. littoralis)
The Seaside Bird's-beak, a fascinating plant of California's coastal regions, is a subspecies of Cordylanthus rigidus. Its endangered status highlights its importance in the local ecosystem.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Cordylanthus rigidus ssp. littoralis (Ferris) T.I. Chuang & Heckard
- Common Name: Seaside Bird's-beak
- Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape Family)
- Synonyms: Cordylanthus littoralis ssp. littoralis
- Note: Scrophulariaceae was listed in some of the provided text but the family is now Orobanchaceae
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to California.
- Found in coastal regions.
Ecological Role
- Hemiparasitic annual herb. This means it obtains some of its nutrients by attaching to and extracting resources from other plants.
Morphological Characteristics
- Annual herb.
- Typically grows to a height of about 6 inches, as mentioned during a guided walk where the plant was described as "little red, 6 inch tall."
Conservation Status
- State Endangered (California, January 1982).
Quirky Facts
- The plant's name comes from the shape of its flower, which resembles a bird's beak.
Further Information
- Donald Myrick (California Academy of Sciences) is credited with photography of this plant.