bastard toadflax

Comandra is a perennial herb growing from rhizomes, often in drier or semi-sandy soils, to about 8 to 34 centimetres (3+1⁄4 to 13+1⁄2 in) tall. The leaves are up to 3.3 cm long and are alternately arranged. Growing in flat or roundish clusters, the flowers lack petals, but have five greenish-white sepals. The flowers contain both male and female structures, and are insect-pollinated. The fruit is a drupe 4–6 mm thick. Subspecies include:

Comandra umbellata subsp. californica – California bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata subsp. pallida – pale bastard toadflax, pine bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata subsp. umbellata Comandra umbellata is hemiparasitic; it is not holoparasitic as it obtains some nutrition through photosynthesis. It has a wide host range, parasitizing over 200 known plant species. These include: Acer, Antennaria, Aster, Betula, Carex, Solidago, Fragaria, Populus, Quercus, Rosa, Rubus, Vaccinium and some grasses. In Europe the common English name bastard toadflax is used for plants of the genus Thesium.

A decoction of the plant parts was made by the Navajo people for narcotic and other medicinal usage. In times of food shortage, the berries were used by Native Americans as a food source, and though small, they have a sweet taste. The fruit may contain toxic selenium if grown in soil rich in the element.

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