About Kopsiopsis strobilacea (A.Gray) Beck
Kopsiopsis strobilacea, commonly called the California groundcone, is a parasitic plant species belonging to the Orobanchaceae family. It is native to California and southern Oregon, growing in wooded areas and chaparral habitats there. It parasitizes the roots of Arbutus menziesii and inland manzanitas, penetrating its host plants with specialized structures called haustoria to access nutrients. The only aboveground visible portion of this plant is a dark purplish, reddish, or brown inflorescence that reaches up to 18 cm (7.1 inches) in length. Purple flowers with pale margins emerge between the plant's overlapping bracts. This species was formerly classified under the name Boschniakia strobilacea; based on phylogenetic evidence, many modern taxonomists now place it in the separate genus Kopsiopsis. Morphological evidence suggests this species may have undergone genetic exchange with Kopsiopsis hookeri in regions where their native distributions overlap.
