With the lack of rainfall that we have had this winter season I think we all have hopes that more precipitation will find its way here before spring arrives. However, Mother-Nature is not waiting, and her array of springtime wildflower blooms are already beginning. The Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora), a common oak woodland plant in Mendocino County, has begun to welcome spring with its maroon-pink colors.
This native plant is closely related to the Indian Paintbrushes and Owls Clovers, all being found within the Scrophulariacea family. Like others in the same Pedicularis genus, it has the ability to be a root parasite, attaching to the roots of other plants to obtain nutrients and water if presented with the opportunity. Often you can find it associated with plants of the heath family, such as manzanita and madrone.
