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Family: Orobanchaceae
Mid-Atlantic bloom time: May - July
Downy Yellow False Foxglove's unopened blossoms resemble a bright yellow crayon or lipstick. A key to identifying it is the late spring to early summer bloom time (other local False Foxgloves bloom in late summer to early autumn) and its downy stems.
Like all members of its genus Aureolaria, is hemiparasitic on oak tree roots, meaning that it does photosynthesize to some degree, but it also takes water and/or nutrients from its host.
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8 July 2012
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA (flower is about 3 cm long and includes a tiny spider hiding inside!) 
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5 July 2012
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA (flower bud approx. 3 cm long; note the downy stems) 
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8 July 2012
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA 
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8 July 2012
Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve, Haymarket, VA (note the downy stem) 
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