Collinsia multicolor

Annuals 30–60 cm. Stems ascending. Leaf-blades: middle and distal lanceolate-deltate, margins coarsely serrate. Inflorescences ± glandular; proximal nodes 1-flowered or 2-flowered, distals 2–4-flowered; flowers not crowded proximally, sometimes crowded distally; distalmost bracts linear, 3–5 mm. Pedicels ascending to spreading, proximalmost sometimes longer than calyx, distalmost sometimes shorter than calyx, visible or distalmost not or scarcely visible. Flowers: caly× lobes deltate, surpassing capsule, ape× acute; corolla mostly white to pale lilac, banner base white with maroon dots and lines, rarely unmarked, wings and keel lavender to bluish purple, 12–18 mm, usually glabrous; banner length 0.7–0.8 times wings, lobe base without folds; banner lobes and wings obovate, notched; keel sometimes sparsely glandular-hairy; tube longer than diam., adaxial pouch rounded, slightly gibbous, not prominent; stamens: abaxial filaments glabrous, adaxials hairy, basal spur 0 (or 1). Capsules without red blotches. Seeds 8 (–12), oblong, 2–2.5 mm, margins thickened, inrolled.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Moist, ± shady scrub, woodlands.
Elevation: 0–300 m.

Calif.

Discussion

Collinsia multicolor is known from the Santa Cruz Mountains. The flowers of C. multicolor are similar to those of C. heterophylla, including markings at the base of the banner; C. multicolor lacks the curved basal spurs at the bases of the adaxial filaments, and its banner lobes and wings are notched. In C. multicolor, the adaxial side of the corolla tube is rounded and slightly gibbous, unlike the tube of C. heterophylla, which is saccate basally.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa