Erythranthe primuloides

Perennials, rhizomatous or stoloniferous, mat-forming, rhizomes or stolons flagelliform. Stems erect to ascending, usually simple, 2–10 (–20) cm, villous, internodes shortened. Leaves all basal or near basal, often rosulate; petiole 0 mm; blade palmately 3-veined, oblanceolate to elliptic-obovate, 7–40 × 4–12 mm, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire, distally denticulate to dentate, or sharply serrate-dentate, apex acute to obtuse, abaxial surface glabrous, adaxial glabrous or glabrate to sparsely to densely long-villous, eglandular. Flowers herkogamous, 1. Fruiting pedicels 30–110 (–130) mm, glabrous or sparsely stipitate-glandular near base. Fruiting calyces tubular-campanulate, weakly or not inflated, 6–8 mm, glabrous. Corollas yellow to orange-yellow, usually brown-spotted abaxially, base of each abaxial lobe usually with a larger reddish-brown spot, bilaterally or nearly radially symmetric, weakly bilabiate or nearly regular, densely hirsute on abaxial side of opening; tube-throat narrowly campanulate, 15–20 mm, exserted beyond calyx margin; lobes broadly obovate-oblong, apex rounded or truncate-notched, throat open, palate densely villous, abaxial ridges prominent. Styles glabrous. Anthers slightly exserted, margins ciliate, glabrous. Capsules included, 6–7 mm. 2n = 34.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Wet meadows, seeps, streamsides.
Elevation: 600–3400 m.

Ariz., Calif., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., Utah, Wash.

Discussion

Flowers in Erythranthe primuloides and E. linearifolia characteristically appear to be scapose, but the scapes are pedicels arising from axils of greatly foreshortened stems. Occasionally in both species the internodes may lengthen somewhat, and the leaves are not so densely clustered at the base of the stems.

In northern Klamath, western Deschutes, and eastern Douglas counties, Oregon, an area within the range of typical populations, Erythranthe primuloides has distinctively large corollas (limbs 10–15 mm wide). Apparent clones of large-flowered and smaller-flowered plants sometimes grow in close proximity or even intermixed, appearing as two different entities.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa