Erythranthe rhodopetra

Annuals, taprooted. Stems erect, simple or branched from basal nodes, 6–7(–21) cm, minutely puberulent. Leaves cauline, basal not persistent; petiole 0 mm; blade palmately 3-veined, linear to oblanceolate, 5–22 × 1–7(–10) mm, base attenuate, margins entire, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces minutely puberulent. Flowers herkogamous, 1–46, from distal or medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels erect to ascending, 10–33(–40) mm. Fruiting calyces becoming reddish, campanulate to cylindric, 5–10 mm, margins distinctly toothed or lobed, minutely puberulent, ribs thickened, lobes pronounced, erect, margins glabrous. Corollas pale pink to pink, throat broad, yellow, palate with a broad yellow patch covering ridges and lateral areas, bilaterally symmetric, strongly bilabiate; tube-throat cylindric to funnelform, 9–15 mm, exserted beyond calyx margin; limb expanded 16–25 mm, lobes notched, abaxial limb glabrous or sparsely bearded. Styles glabrous. Anthers included, glabrous. Capsules included, 4–9 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–May.
Habitat: Washes in Mojave Desert scrub.
Elevation: 600–900 m.

Calif.

Discussion

Erythranthe rhodopetra is endemic to the El Paso Mountains in Kern County. The species was treated previously as part of E. palmeri but is distinguished by having a wider limb (16–25 mm) than E. palmeri (8–15 mm) and pale pink flowers with a broad yellow palate and orifice. In contrast, E. palmeri has deep pink corollas with two yellow ridges on the palate.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa