Salt Marsh Birds-beak

(Cordylanthus maritimus)

This rare species is a member of the broomrape family, and is also known by the common name Point Reyes bird's beak. Native to northern Baja California and the southwest, the plant will grow in highly saline environments, such as coastal salt marsh and inland salt flats. Its small, hairy, gray-green leaves have a slightly grainy crust, as the plant excretes salts.