Erythranthe erubescens
Phytoneuron 2014-31: 12, figs. 11–13. 2014.
Perennials, rhizomatous. Stems erect, usually simple, 25–90 cm, stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous. Leaves cauline; petiole 0 mm; blade palmately veined, elliptic to ovate, ovatelanceolate, or lanceolate, (20–) 30–90 × 5–25 (–35) mm, base rounded to cuneate, subclasping, margins denticulate, subentire, or entire, apex acute, surfaces stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous. Flowers herkogamous, 2–8, axillary at leafy medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels 45–90 mm. Fruiting calyces cylindric-campanulate, not inflated, 15–22 mm, stipitate-glandular to glandular-villous, tube 14–19 × 6–8 mm, lobes subequal to distinctly unequal, ovate, apex linear-caudate. Corollas light pink, darker-pink stripes down middle of each lobe, abaxial 3 lobes with a white basal patch, palate ridges yellow, bilaterally symmetric, strongly bilabiate; tube-throat funnelform, 20–30 mm, exserted beyond calyx margins; lobe apex usually truncate, shallowly retuse, throat open. Styles glabrous. Anthers included, white-villous, thecae spreading. Capsules included, 7–13 mm. 2n = 16.
Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Springs and seeps, meadows, cliffs, steep rocky slopes, ridges.
Elevation: (1400–)1800–3000(–3500) m.
Discussion
Erythranthe erubescens was long identified as E. lewisii but is distinct in its light pink corollas (versus mostly magenta-rose to purplish in E. lewisii), more broadly cylindric calyx tube [14–19 × 6–8 mm versus 12–15(–17) × 9–12 mm], and its geographic range in the Sierra Nevada of California (versus widespread from southern Alaska south to northwestern California, northern Utah, eastern Nevada, and northern Colorado in E. lewisii). The two are genetically isolated and phylogenetically distinct (see summary of evidence in G. L. Nesom 2014b).
In California, Erythranthe erubescens ranges from Modoc, Plumas, and Tehama counties south to Fresno County; in Nevada, it is known only from Washoe County and Carson City.
Selected References
None.