Castilleja cryptantha
Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 50: 208. 1937.
Herbs, perennial, (0.8–) 1–1.9 dm; from a woody caudex; with a taproot. Stems few to several, erect or ascending, unbranched, hairs spreading, long, soft, eglandular, mixed with short-stipitate-glandular ones. Leaves green, often with brown or purple veins, narrowly to broadly lanceolate, 1.5–4 cm, not fleshy, margins plane, ± involute, 0–3-lobed, apex acute to acuminate; lobes spreading-ascending, narrowly lanceolate, apex acute to ± obtuse. Inflorescences (2.5–) 3–6 × 1–2 cm; green to dull brown or dull reddish purple throughout, or proximally green to dull brown or dull reddish purple, distally yellow on apices, broadly lanceolate to ovate, (0–) 3-lobed; lobes ascending, narrowly lanceolate, long or short, arising near mid length, apex acute or acuminate. Calyces proximally green or pale with green veins, lobes yellow, sometimes becoming deep red with age, 12–15 mm; abaxial and adaxial clefts 3–7 mm, 25–50% of calyx length, deeper than laterals, lateral 1–3 (–4) mm, 8–20% of calyx length; lobes triangular, adaxial segments longer than abaxials, apex acute or obtuse. Corollas straight, 14–16 mm; tube 11–14 mm; whole corolla included within calyx; beak adaxially pale-yellow, 1–2 mm; abaxial lip deep green, slightly inflated, 4–5 mm, 67% as long as beak; teeth ascending, pale, 1.5–2 mm. 2n = 24.
Phenology: Flowering Jul–Aug.
Habitat: Mesic to moist flat subalpine meadows and turf, to tree line.
Elevation: 1500–2000 m.
Discussion
Castilleja cryptantha is endemic to the vicinity of Mt. Rainier in the Cascade Range, with most populations found within Mt. Rainier National Park. Unlike most species of Castilleja, it is apparently self-pollinating (W. J. Duffield 1972); the small flowers are entirely enclosed within the yellowish calyces, which tend to grow deep reddish as they age. The purplish brown bracts are also unusual in the genus.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
"dm" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property.