Owl's-clovers

Description

Triphysaria is a genus of five plants in the broomrape family which are known generally as owl's-clovers. This genus is closely related to the genera Castilleja and Orthocarpus. Triphysaria are native to western North America, including a species endemic to California. These plants, like those in many other genera in the family, are facultative hemiparasites on other plants. They produce haustoria that tap into the roots of other plants to extract some of the nutrients they need. The plants bear spike inflorescences of pouched, folded flowers that have lips shaped like the beak of an owl.