Erythranthe sierrae
Aliso 30: 67, figs. 29–31. 2012.
Annuals, taprooted. Stems erect, simple or branched from basal nodes, (3–) 4–20 cm, minutely glandular. Leaves cauline, basal not persistent; petiole 0 mm; blade 1-veined or palmately 3-veined (in broader ones), linear to oblanceolate, 3–23 × 1–10 mm, base attenuate, margins entire, sometimes toothed, apex acute, surfaces minutely glandular. Flowers herkogamous, 1–38, from distal or medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels 10–33 (–40) mm. Fruiting calyces sometimes red-spotted, campanulate to cylindric, 4–8 mm, margins distinctly toothed or lobed, minutely glandular, ribs weak, lobes pronounced, erect, margins ciliate. Corollas pale-pink, abaxial limb with 2 yellow ridges, bilaterally symmetric, strongly bilabiate; tube-throat funnelform, 5–15 mm, exserted beyond calyx margin; limb expanded 5–17 mm, lobes deeply notched, abaxial limb glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Styles glabrous. Anthers included, glabrous. Capsules included, 4–9 mm.
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Foothill oak woodlands, mixed coniferous forests.
Elevation: 200–2300 m.
Discussion
Erythranthe sierrae is endemic to the southern Sierra Nevada in Fresno, Kern, and Tulare counties. The species was previously treated as E. palmeri but can be distinguished by having leaf margins that are often toothed, pale pink corollas, and white stamens. Erythranthe palmeri has entire leaf margins that are never toothed, deep pink to purple corollas, and yellow stamens.
Selected References
None.