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Cordylanthus parviflorus - purple bird's-beak

Scientific Family
Scrophulariaceae
Synonyms
Cordylanthus glandulosus
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
8 to 16 inches
Riparian
No

A highly branched plant with copiously glandular and hairy herbage.

Corolla is purple with yellow tips. Flowers are scattered along the branches.

Habitat

Dry rocky slopes and mesas, often in juniper woodlands.

Plant Community
Desert Scrub
Grasslands
Interior Chaparral
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
7000

Flower Characteristics

Loose clusters of 1, 2 to 4 flowers. Flowers are up to 3/4 inch long, made up of a dark-veined pinkish-purple pouch having yellow-tipped petals, which are enveloped in darker sepals. The 4 stamens have bearded filaments.

Flower color
Pinkish-purple
Flower shape
Other
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Other

Leaf and Stem Characteristics

Leaves and stems are copiously glandular and hairy.

Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Gray-green, tinged red
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf attachment
Alternate
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

Fruit type
Capsule

Seeds are ovoid, shallowly netted, dark brown, densely papillate (soft projections) between nets.