genus
Owl's-clovers
Orthocarpus
Field notes
Orthocarpus, or owl's-clover, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae (broomrapes). They are native to North America. A number of species formerly included in Orthocarpus have been transferred to the genus Castilleja, which includes the plants commonly known as Indian paintbrush. Plants of the genus are generally less than 30 centimetres (1 ft) in height.
Like their close relatives in genus Castilleja, Orthocarpus are root hemiparasites, capable of photosynthesis but extracting water and mineral nutrients through attachment to the roots of host plants.
Some animal species such as the Edith's checkerspot butterfly use these plants as hosts during ovipositing.
Read more on WikipediaChildren
Range
Greener is more native, amber more introduced; paler is less certain. How this was decided
Key traits
- Layer
- Herbaceous plants
- Plant type
- Annual Wildflower
From USDA PLANTS.
Top native owl's-clovers All
Native to the US, ranked by caterpillars, then bees and other hosts, food, flowers and shelter.
-
Toothed Owl's Clover
Orthocarpus cuspidatus
flowers
3
-
Mountain Owl's Clover
Orthocarpus imbricatus
flowers
3
-
Rosy Owl's-clover
Orthocarpus bracteosus
flowers
3
-
Goldtongue
Orthocarpus tenuifolius
flowers
2
-
Yellow Owl's-clover
Orthocarpus luteus
flowers
1
-
Tolmie's Owl's-clover
Orthocarpus tolmiei
-
Purple Owlclover
Orthocarpus purpureoalbus
-
Holmgren's Owl's-Clover
Orthocarpus holmgreniorum