Taxon Report

Aphyllon epigalium Colwell & A. C. Schneid. ssp. notocalifornicum Colwell & A. C. Schneid.

Southern California galium broomrape

Print Report


Keir Morse

Species Description:
Aphyllon epigalium ssp. notocalifornicum, commonly known as Southern California galium broomrape, is a annual/perennial herb (parasitic) in the Orobanchaceae that is . It occurs within Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, and Riparian forest, growing at elevations from 1200 to 1535 meters. Aphyllon epigalium ssp. notocalifornicum is ranked 1B.3, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Not very threatened in California.

  Classification

Scientific Name:
Aphyllon epigalium Colwell & A. C. Schneid. ssp. notocalifornicum Colwell & A. C. Schneid.
Common Name:
Southern California galium broomrape
Family: Orobanchaceae
Element Code: PDORO05012
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: annual/perennial herb (parasitic)
Blooming Period: Jun(Jul) Jun(Jul)
Elevation: 1200-1535 (3935-5035)
General Habitats: Cismontane woodland, Lower montane coniferous forest, Riparian forest
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details: Associated host is Gallium andrewsii and possibly other perennial Galium spp. Most records are from stands of Pseudotsuga macrocarpa.

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Total Occurrences: 8
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 0
   Good (B) 0
   Fair (C) 0
   Poor (D) 0
   None (X) 0
   Unknown (U) 8
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG), Ventura (VEN)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Boucher Hill (3311638), Cuyamaca Peak (3211685), Forest Falls (3411618), Palomar Observatory (3311637), Vail Lake (3311648), White Ledge Peak (3411944), Yucaipa (3411711)

Notes

While Colwell et al. (2017) include May in the flowering time, no May records were found.
Threats:
Potentially threatened by improper burning regime.
Taxonomy:
Previously identified as either A. fasciculatum or (sometimes) A. purpureum; differentiated by its growth on Galium and the presence of 2-4 yellow flowers per stem with pedicels longer than the stem. Differentiated from A. epigalium ssp. epigalium by its paler, straw-colored flowers and shorter corollas with more prominently arched tubes, +/- horizontal mouths, and narrower lobes with erect or weakly recurved tips.

Selected References

Proposed addition to CRPR 1B.3, G4T2 / S2 (2023)
Madroño 64(3): 99–107 (2017)
Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 20 January 2025].