Purple Owl's Clover

Castilleja exserta

Family: Orobanchaceae (Broomrape)

Flowers — color: white, size: 1/8", type: tubular

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I see Purple Owl's Clover as a pink thumb: the head is often that big. But the color we observe is a collection of magenta-tipped bracts, special parts, sometimes highly colored that protect the actual blooms. A few magenta, white and yellow flowers poke through the bracts.

Habit:
Purple Owl's Clover is a small annual. Its reddish stem rises four to twelve inches and large specimens may branch. The light green leaces are deeply lobed, resembling fingers. The leaves and stems have fine hairs. It is partially parasitic, using the roots of native plants. Open sun, often exposed areas.

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