Annuals 6–41 cm. Stems erect, minutely scabrous and puberulent. Leaves 15–40 mm; blade: proximal margins entire, distal 3-lobed. Inflorescences racemes or spikes, (1.5–) 3–20 cm; bracts 10–20 mm, margins entire or 3 (or 5) -lobed in distal 2/3, proximal not resembling distal leaves, midlobe green or purple distally, triangular, 3–4 mm wide, apex acute, not cuspidate, lateral lobes narrowly triangular. Pedicels (0–) 1–1.5 mm. Flowers: calyx 6–10 mm; corolla 12–20 mm, longer than bracts, abaxial lip inflated, lobes 0, adaxial lip purple-pink to white, 4–6 mm, equal to abaxial, glabrous or puberulent, tip notably hooked, not bearded. Capsules 5–7 mm, apex retuse. Seeds 10–15, curved, light-brown, oblong, 18–25 mm, reticulate, ridged. 2n = 30.

Phenology: Flowering late May–Oct.
Habitat: Seasonally wet meadows.
Elevation: 10–2000 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

B.C., Calif., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

Orthocarpus bracteosus is endangered in British Columbia and Washington. It resembles O. purpureoalbus; the midlobe of the bracts is 3–4 (versus 1–2) mm wide. Also, the leaves of O. purpureoalbus tend to be dark green; those of O. bracteosus are usually lighter green or yellow-green.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.