The Flora of Mount Shasta California Ground-Cone Broom-rape Family (Orobanchaceae) Boschniakia strobilacea

Flower: The dark reddish brown to deep purple inflorescence resembles a pine cone sitting erect on the ground. The numerous flowers are each located in the axil of a bract. The bracts and flowers are both about 0.75" long and paler in color along the margins. Corolla is two-lipped, the upper lip is slightly hood-like and may be notched, the lower lip is lobed. Calyx cup-shaped with 0 - 5 lobes, corolla with 4 or 5 lobes.

Blooms: April- July

Leaves: No leaves, only bracts of the inflorescence

Height: 4 - 10 inches

Stem: Very short, underground, only the peduncle (stalk of inflorescence) extends above ground

Found: Open forests, shrublands

Tidbits:Root parasite on Manzanita and Madrone