Heuchera novamexicana

Herbs acaulescent; caudex branched. Flowering-stems 30–50 cm, short or long-stipitate-glandular. Leaves: petiole glabrous or long-stipitate-glandular; blade reniform or rounded-cordate, shallowly 5-lobed, 2–6 cm, base cordate, lobes rounded, margins dentate, apex obtuse, surfaces long-stipitate-glandular on veins abaxially, glabrous or short-stipitate-glandular adaxially. Inflorescences dense. Flowers: hypanthium radially symmetric, free 1–1.8 mm, cream or yellowish green, broadly campanulate, 3–5 mm, short-stipitate-glandular; sepals erect or incurved, green-tipped, equal, 0.6–1.2 mm, apex ovate; petals usually erect, white, elliptic, (not clawed), unlobed, 0.5–1 mm, margins entire; stamens included 0.5 mm; (filaments erect or incurved distally, equaling and not concealed by anthers); styles included 0.5–1 mm, 0.5–1 mm, 0.1+ mm diam. Capsules ovoid, 5.5–6.5 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose. Seeds dark-brown, asymmetrically ellipsoid or convex-fusiform, 0.5 mm. 2n = 14.

Phenology: Flowering Jun.
Habitat: Shaded rocky ledges and outcrops
Elevation: 1800-2200 m

Ariz., N.Mex.

Discussion

Heuchera novamexicana occurs in the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico. Populations with glabrous petioles may be found in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico; elsewhere, long stipitate-glandular petioles are more common in the species.

The Navajo Indians took a decoction of roots of Heuchera novamexicana for internal pain. They applied a poultice of split roots to infected sores, swellings, and fractures, and used the plant as a panacea or “life medicine” (D. E. Moerman 1998).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa