Pedicularis centranthera
Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 120. 1859.
Plants 4–12 cm. Leaves: basal 6–8, blade elliptic or spatulate, 35–120 x 10–30 mm, undivided or 1-pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or extensively overlapping distally, entire or 1-serrate or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous or scattered abaxial glands; cauline 0–4, blade elliptic, sometimes lanceolate, 20–110 x 5–30 mm, 1-pinnatifid or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes overlapping distally, 1-serrate or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous. Racemes simple, 1–4, not exceeding basal leaves, each 8–14-flowered; bracts spatulate, 40–60 x 3–6 mm, undivided proximally, undivided or 1-pinnatifid distally, proximal margins entire, distal 1-serrate or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous, sometimes arachnoid along main veins. Pedicels 1–5 mm. Flowers: calyx 17–22 mm, glabrous, lobes 5, narrowly triangular, 4–7 mm, apex entire or serrate, glabrous or ciliate; corolla 28–40 mm, tube white or pale-purple, 15–30 mm; galea white or pale-purple, apically sometimes dark violet to purple, 13–15 mm, beakless, margins entire medially and distally, apex arching over abaxial lip; abaxial lip purple, 1–4 mm.
Distribution
Ariz., Calif., Colo., N.Mex., Nev., Oreg., Utah
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
The leaves of Pedicularis centranthera exceed the inflorescence, giving the impression that the cauline leaves are basal. Proximalmost basal leaves are distinct: brown, membranous, and spatulate with undivided and entire margins. Pedicularis semibarbata has similar basal leaves.
Pedicularis centranthera occurs in evergreen forests, often under pinyon pine, juniper, ponderosa pine, and yellow pine.
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Bracts arachnoid and/or margins ciliate. | Pedicularis centranthera var. centranthera |
| 1 | Bracts glabrous. | Pedicularis centranthera var. exulans |