California broomrape facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California broomrape |
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| California broomrape (Orobanche californica ssp. californica) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Orobanche
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| Species: |
californica
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The California broomrape, also known as Orobanche californica, is a very unique plant. It is a parasitic plant, which means it gets its food by attaching to the roots of other plants. It usually grows on plants from the daisy family, called Asteraceae.
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Where Does California Broomrape Grow?
The California broomrape is found in western North America. You can see it from British Columbia and Idaho in the north, all the way down to California, Nevada, and Baja California in the south. It grows in many different types of places. Sometimes, it is found near California goldenrod or sagebrush plants.
What Does California Broomrape Look Like?
This plant grows from a thick root. It stands straight up, sometimes reaching about 35 centimeters (14 inches) tall. It can have one stem or a group of several stems.
Since it's a parasite, it gets its food from a host plant. This means it does not need leaves or chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is the green stuff that helps most plants make their own food using sunlight. Because it lacks chlorophyll, the California broomrape is light to dark purple. It is also covered in tiny, sticky hairs.
Its flowers grow in a long cluster or a branching group. Each flower is shaped like a tube and can be up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long. They can be pale pink, yellowish, or purple. Sometimes, they have clear lines or veins on them. After the flowers, the plant produces a capsule. This capsule is like a small container that holds many tiny seeds.
Different Types of California Broomrape
There are several different types, or subspecies, of California broomrape. Sometimes, it can be tricky to tell them apart! Here are a few examples:
- Orobanche californica ssp. californica — This type grows near the coast, from central California up to British Columbia. It often attaches to Grindelia plants.
- Orobanche californica ssp. feudgei — This one grows on chaparral plants in dry areas. You can find it in places like the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Orobanche californica ssp. jepsonii — Also known as Jepson's broomrape, this type is not very common. It grows in various parts of California and up to Oregon. It can attach to many different kinds of Asteraceae plants.
How People Used California Broomrape
The Paiute people, who lived in eastern California and the Great Basin, used this plant. They would make a special liquid from it. This liquid was used to help with colds and breathing problems.
