Comandra umbellata
North American hemiparasitic herb that photosynthesizes and can attach to host roots, with small white flowers and simple alternate leaves, spreading by underground rhizomes to form large colonies, parasitizing over 200 plant species and serving as the alternate host for Cronartium comandrae, found in meadows, woodlands, balds, cliffs and other disturbed habitats.
Common Names
Bastard Toadflax, False Toadflax, Pale Comandra, California Comandra
Summary
Bastard Toadflax is a North American hemiparasitic perennial in the Santalaceae that grows from underground rhizomes to form colonies. Stems are erect and typically 6–12 inches tall, with alternate, simple, smooth leaves that are glaucous and narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate; dense clusters of small white to greenish-white flowers appear at stem tips, with five sepals and no petals, and the fruit is a small drupe. The plant photosynthesizes while parasitizing host roots and occurs in dry prairies and open woodlands on sandy or rocky soils, with nectar attracting insects and fruits eaten by small mammals.
In cultivation, it tolerates bright sun to partial shade with well-drained soil and dries between waterings, displaying drought tolerance and low nutrient needs. Propagation is by seeds or root cuttings, with seed stratification (about three months at 5°C) and sowing near a mature host plant recommended for establishment. Prairie restoration uses note biodiversity benefits and potential for reduced maintenance, while nectar attracts butterflies, flies, bees, and beetles and fruits support small mammals, making it a suitable addition to dry prairie, open woodland, or disturbed-site plantings.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
6-12 inches
Spread
9-12 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4-8
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun to partial sun.
Soil Type
Dry, well-drained soil, typically sandy or loamy
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
Acidic to neutral soil; pH around 6.5.
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Green, gray-green, and glaucous foliage.
Fall Foliage Color
No fall foliage
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Not specified
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees and flies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (L.) Nutt.
- Publication
- Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 157 (1818)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Santalales
- Family
- Santalaceae
- Genus
- Comandra
Inferior Taxa
Comandra umbellata subsp. californica Comandra umbellata subsp. elegans Comandra umbellata subsp. pallida
Synonyms
Comandra cuneifolia Comandra elliptica Comandra media Comandra obovata Comandra obtusifolia Comandra umbellata var. decumbens Comandra umbellata var. lanceolata Comandra umbellulata Comandra umbellata var. umbellata Thesium umbellatum Thesium corymbosulum Comandra richardsiana Comandra umbellata subsp. richardsiana Hamiltonia umbellata Comandra umbellata subsp. umbellata