Herbs 0.7–1.2 dm. Stems: hairs spreading, medium length, ± stiff. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 1.4–6 cm, 0(–5)-lobed. Inflorescences 1.5–7 cm; bracts distally white on apices, rarely pale yellow. Calyces (8–)15–20 mm; abaxial clefts 7–10.5 mm, adaxial 12 mm, abaxial 33–50% of calyx length, adaxial ca. 50% of calyx length, all 4 clefts subequal, lateral 5–7 mm, 33% of calyx length. Corollas 14–22 mm; beak adaxially white, aging light pink; abaxial lip proximally creamy white or yellow-green (becoming light pink with age), distally yellow (becoming orange with age), with small purple spot, pouches appearing moderately inflated, widened gradually, longer than deep, deeply pouched (less so than var. gracilis), 4.5–7 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–May.
Habitat: Coastal grasslands, springs, roadsides, pastures.
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif.

Discussion

Variety obispoënsis is white-bracted and is mostly limited to the coastal plain in San Luis Obispo County, where it is threatened by development. It can resemble Castilleja attenuata, but the spikes of var. obispoënsis are considerably wider, and the abaxial lip of the corolla is more inflated and conspicuous.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.