In message ,
writes
A friend took this pic around Palo Alto recently and asked me what it was.
I don't know so I told her I'd post it and see if I could find out. It
looks possibly like Pedicularis? Penstemon? It's growing in the yard. I
don't know if it's native to CA or to somewhere else. It looked ordinary
enough I thought maybe someone could ID it without further examination. If
not, I suppose I can get my friend to find it again and supply further
details.

http://www.botsoc.org/mallikaspic.jpg


Looks like an Acanthus, possibly A. mollis, Bear's Breeches.

cheers,
robin

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