Brachystigma wrightii

Kearney and Peebles 1969, Martin and Hutchins 1980

Duration: Perennial Nativity: Native Lifeform: Subshrub General: Perennial herb or shrub, to 60 cm tall, arising from a large, woody caudex, probably root-parasitic, herbage retrorsely-hispidulous. Leaves: Opposite, alternate or in whorls of three, narrowly linear, entire, often revolute. Flowers: Brownish yellow or orange yellow, with a large corolla and short corolla tube, the throat swollen on one side, the calyx 3-4 mm long, the corolla 15-25 mm long, puberulent on outside, the flowers borne in loose, leafy racemes on long pedicels. Fruits: Capsule 6-10 mm long, the beak at maturity splitting at the apex into 2 reflexed segments. Ecology: Found on dry slopes and mesas, among live oaks, from 5,000-7,500 ft (1524-2286 m); flowering August-September. Notes: The sight of the narrow leaves that are not opposite can be misleading, but the beautiful yellow foxglove flowers are distinctive. Also pay attention to the narrow leaves and how they are revolute. Ethnobotany: Unknown Etymology: Brachystigma is of uncertain origin, while wrightii is named for the 19th century American botanist Charles Wright. Synonyms: None Editor: LCrumbacher and NPS/Steve Buckley 2011