This inconspicuous little flower is Flat-top Broomrape (Orobanche corymbosa), part of the Broomrape Family (Orobanchaceae). We have four species in this family in this area.One of the most unusual aspects of this flower is that the leaves aren't green. The plant doesn't have leaves and chlorophyll because it is a parasite on nearby sagebrush, receiving necessary nutrients from the host plant.
It's easy to miss the flower, which is tubular with wooly anthers.
Although the plant is native to most of the western U.S., it is considered a noxious weed in some areas.
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