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serpentine bird's beak

Scientific Name: Cordylanthus tenuis ssp. brunneus

Family: Scrophulariaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Cordylanthus tenuis: Slender Bird's Beak

Cordylanthus tenuis, commonly known as slender bird's beak, is a flowering plant belonging to the broomrape family (Orobanchaceae).

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is commonly known as bird's beak, and some varieties are associated with serpentine soil.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Cordylanthus tenuis A. Gray
  • Common Name: Slender bird's beak
  • Family: Orobanchaceae (broomrape family)
  • Rank: Species

Subspecies:

  • Cordylanthus tenuis ssp. brunneus (Jeps.) Munz - Serpentine Bird's-beak
  • Cordylanthus tenuis ssp. capillaris (Pennell) T.I. Chuang & Heckard - Pennell's bird's-beak

Synonyms and Alternative Names:

  • Cordylanthus brunneus

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the US.
  • Cordylanthus tenuis ssp. brunneus (Serpentine Bird's-beak) is found in California, specifically in areas like Robert Lewis Stevenson State Park (Napa County) and Pine Flat Road (Sonoma County).
  • Serpentine Bird's-beak has an affinity to serpentine soil.
  • Pennell's Bird's-beak can be found in serpentine flats among chaparral.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Pennell's bird's-beak (C. tenuis ssp. capillaris) is described as a branching, herbaceous annual.
  • Some varieties are annual herbs and hemiparasitic.

Ecological Role

  • Some subspecies are serpentine endemics.
  • Mixed Serpentine Chaparral/Leather Oak Series.

Quirky Facts

  • The name "bird's beak" likely refers to the shape of the plant's flowers or seed pods.