Erythranthe exigua

Annuals, taprooted. Stems erect, simple, sometimes branched near base, 2–10 cm, minutely stipitate-glandular. Leaves cauline; petiole 0 mm; blade 1-veined, obovate-oblong to narrowly elliptic, ovate, or narrowly ovate, 3–6 mm, base rounded to truncate or cuneate, margins entire or shallowly dentate, apex rounded, surfaces minutely stipitate-glandular. Flowers plesiogamous, (1 or)2–6, from distal or medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels divergent-spreading, 15–20 mm, minutely stipitate-glandular. Fruiting calyces campanulate, 2–2.5 mm, minutely stipitate-glandular. Corollas light lavender to purple, abaxial lobe and palate ridges with yellow patches, bilaterally symmetric, ± bilabiate; tube-throat narrowly funnelform-cylindric, 1.5–2.5 mm, exserted 0.5 mm beyond calyx margin; lobes spreading. Styles glabrous. Stigmas persistent in fruit. Anthers included, glabrous. Capsules distinctly exserted, 3–4 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Gentle slopes, along small streams, vernal creeks, pebble plains, openings in Jeffrey pine-juniper forests, runoff areas, vernal depressions, roadsides.
Elevation: 1800–2400(–2600) m.

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Plants of Erythranthe exigua are diminutive annuals with few nodes and greatly reduced leaves, corollas, and calyces, wide spreading pedicels, and lavender flowers with small but bilabiate limbs. The species is known only from the San Bernardino Mountains of San Bernardino County and in adjacent Mexico.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa