Collinsia sparsiflora
Inde× Seminum (St. Petersburg) 2: 33. 1836.
Annuals 5–30 cm. Stems erect to ascending. Leaf blades usually linear to oblong, margins entire. Inflorescences glabrous or finely hairy, eglandular; nodes 1- or 2(or 3)-flowered; flowers not crowded; distalmost bracts linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2–4(+) mm. Pedicels ascending to spreading, usually longer than calyx, visible. Flowers: calyx lobes narrowly triangular to lanceolate, surpassing capsule, ape× sharply acute to acuminate; corolla lavender to purple, rarely white, 5–20 mm, keel sparsely hairy near tip; banner length 0.8–0.9 times wings, lobe base without folds; banner lobes and wings oblong to obovate, entire or notched; stamens: abaxial filaments glabrous or sparsely long-hairy at base, adaxials sparsely spreading-hairy on proximal 1/2, basal spur 0. Capsules with red blotches. Seeds 4–12, round, flattened, 2–3 mm, margins thin, not inrolled.
Distribution
Calif., Oreg., Wash.
Discussion
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Collinsia sparsiflora occurs in open habitats and woodland edges; it is easily recognized by the red blotches on fruits and the frequent occurrence of a single flower per node. In immature plants, the presence of a red band spanning the circumference of the base of the calyx lobes along with the relatively frequent occurrence of a single flower per node distinguishes C. sparsiflora.
V. M. Newsom (1929) recognized five varieties in Collinsia sparsiflora.
Two varieties are recognized here to accommodate the general pattern of locally distinct small- and large-flowered populations of Collinsia sparsiflora. Where these taxa are sympatric, the author has not found intermediates that suggest local interbreeding.
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Corollas 9–20 mm, angles between corolla tube-throat and calyx 45–70°; seeds 2.5–3 mm. | Collinsia sparsiflora var. sparsiflora |
| 1 | Corollas 5–9 mm, angles between corolla tube-throat and calyx 30–45°; seeds 2–2.3(–2.5) mm. | Collinsia sparsiflora var. collina |