Nix Nature Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 3-29-09. © Joan Avise

Purple Owl's Clover

Castilleja exserta ssp. exserta

An annual, widespread in grasslands and open grassy coastal sage scrub and chaparral, that has declined greatly with loss of grasslands due to development.  It is an erect 4-16 in. plant, sometimes branching, with deeply pinnately-cleft  alternate leaves.  It is variable and may hybridize with other species in the genus. 

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Flowers are subtended by 5- to 7-lobed tricolored bracts, green at the base, greenish purple in middle, and rose-purple at the tips.  The 4-lobed calyx is the color of the bracts.  The hairy corolla is 2-lipped, crimson or purplish, with white or yellow at the tip with purple dots on the lower lip.  The upper lip is somewhat hooked at the tip. There are 4 stamens. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise
Nix Nature Center, Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Laguna Beach, CA. 3-28-09. © Joan Avise

Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park, Orange Co., CA. 6-4-11. © Joan Avise
James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise

James Dilley Preserve, Laguna beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise
James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach. CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise

James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, CA. 4-24-10. © Joan Avise
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Laguna Niguel, CA. 4-05-08. © Joan Avise
Associations with insects  

Larval food plant for:

Common Flower Moth, Schinia pulchripennis