Frasera albicaulis var. cusickii
Vasc. Pl. Pacif. N.W. 4: 60. 1959.
Common names: Cusick’s swertia
Endemic
Basionym: Frasera cusickii A. Gray Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 22: 310. 1887
Synonyms: F. caerulea Mulford Leucocraspedum coeruleum (Mulford) Rydberg Swertia albicaulis var. cusickii (A. Gray) J. S. Pringle S. nitida subsp. cusickii (A. Gray) Abrams
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 14.
Stems glabrous. Leaf blades glabrous or puberulent only near base and abaxially along midvein. Flowers: calyx glabrous; corolla greenish white or pale to medium blue, generally with dark blue to purple spots; corona scales ovate to elliptic, 2.5–3(–4.5) mm, margins entire or shallowly undulate-erose or toothed; rim of differentiated area on corolla surface fringed all around, fringes shorter near distal end.
Phenology: Flowering early summer.
Habitat: Dry, rocky slopes, open pine woods.
Elevation: 800–2200 m.
Discussion
Variety cusickii is endemic to the mountains of western Idaho and the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.