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 Wikipedia

Children

Range

United States

Greener is more native, amber more introduced; paler is less certain. How this was decided

Key traits

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.