Scientific Family
Scrophulariaceae
Synonyms
Orthocarpus exsertus, Orthocarpus purpurascens, Orthocarpus purpurascens var. pallidus, Orthocarpus purpurascens. var. palmeri
Other common names
twotone owl's clover
purple Indian-paintbrush
purple owl clover
Indian paintbrush
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
To 12 inches
Riparian
No
Single stems arise from the base and branch higher up. Named owl's clover because the flower resembles an owl's face and the owls peer from the bracts. Partially parasitic as it uses roots of other plants for nutrients.
Hairy stemmed annual, leaves with thread-like divisions. Flower spikes dense, velvety, pinkish-purple with white hairs at the bases, resembling a paintbrush. Flowers are hairy, pink or purple, the lower lip is often tipped in white or yellow.
Habitat
Found on grassy valley floors and hillsides.
Plant Community
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
1500
High elevation
4500
Flower Characteristics
Small flowers to 3/4 inch long in spikes of many pink to pinkish-purple bracts. The flower's lower lip is greatly inflated with hooked beak above and are white to yellow tipped.
Flower color
Pinkish-purple with white or yellow tips
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
May
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Leaves are finely divided into threadlike segments to 1-1/4 inches long appearing all along stems.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Dark green
Leaf shape
Pinnatifid
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Oval capsule 1/2 to 3/4 inch long.
Fruit type
Capsule