Castilleja affinis var. contentiosa

(J. F. Macbride) Bacigalupi

Leafl. W. Bot. 10: 286. 1966.

IllustratedEndemic
Basionym: Castilleja douglasii var. contentiosa J. F. Macbride Contr. Gray Herb. 65: 44. 1922
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 583. Mentioned on page 582, 584, 632.

Stems: hairs sparse proximally, becoming fairly dense distally, branched. Leaves often ± fleshy. Inflorescences 2–4 cm wide; bracts proximally greenish to dull purplish, distally pink to pinkish purple or pinkish red, sometimes yellow, pinkish white, red, or pale orange, (0–)3–5-lobed. Calyces colored as bracts or paler near base, 15–25 mm. Corollas 25–30 mm; beak subequal with or exserted from calyx, 14–20 mm.


Phenology: Flowering Feb–Aug(–Sep).
Habitat: Coastal scrub, stabilized dunes, canyons.
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Discussion

Variety contentiosa is restricted to the immediate coast in southern San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties, where it replaces var. affinis. The distinctive branched hairs impart a grayish cast to the plants, and this variety is further distinguished by the commonly pink to pink-purple or purplish red inflorescences. Variety affinis usually has unbranched hairs and reddish to red-orange inflorescences. Transitional plants exist a few miles inland from the coastal populations of var. contentiosa. This form has also been confused with Castilleja miniata, from which it differs in numerous characters, including pubescence and leaf and calyx morphologies, as well as with the insular C. mollis, which is distinguished by its largely decumbent stems and broad, rounded, usually unlobed leaves and bracts.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
J. Mark Egger +, Peter F. Zika +, Barbara L. Wilson +, Richard E. Brainerd +  and Nick Otting +
(J. F. Macbride) Bacigalupi +
Castilleja douglasii var. contentiosa +
0–500 m. +
Coastal scrub, stabilized dunes, canyons. +
Flowering Feb–Aug(–Sep). +
Leafl. W. Bot. +
Illustrated +  and Endemic +
Euchroma +  and Oncorhynchus +
Castilleja affinis var. contentiosa +
Castilleja affinis +
variety +