Lithophragma glabrum

Plants (often red), usually fragile, (flowers sometimes replaced with bulbils). Flowering stems simple, 8–35 cm. Leaves in basal rosette and cauline, basal 3-lobed, (segments 3–4-lobed, round), cauline (2–4), 3-lobed or -foliolate, much reduced, similar to basal, (segments or leaflets simple or 1–3-lobed, often with axillary bulbils); stipules large, not decurrent on petiole, (margins fimbriate); petiole 1–4(–8) cm; blade green, orbiculate, base cordate, surfaces nearly glabrous or sparingly hairy. Inflorescences solitary flowers or erect, 2–5(–7)-flowered racemes, often appearing corymbose, rarely branched unless plant with bulbils, (8–20 cm, flowers sometimes replaced with bulbils). Pedicels to 3–4 times length of hypanthium, (flowers long-pedicellate). Flowers persistent, not fragrant, horizontal; hypanthium narrowly campanulate with acute or hemispheric base, elongating slightly in fruit, throat open, (length 2 times diam.); sepals erect in bud, widely spreading after anthesis, triangular; petals (completely exserted), widely spreading, usually pink, rarely white, ovate, narrowly clawed, deeply and palmately 5-lobed, (without serrations at base, sinuses extending 4/5+ to base of lamina), 3.5–7 mm, ultimate margins entire; ovary to 1/2 inferior; styles slightly exserted in fruit; stigma papillae apical. Seeds 0.5–0.6 mm, tuberculate (tubercles in 3–19 rows, blunt or spinelike). 2n = 14, 28.

Phenology: Flowering Feb–Sep.
Habitat: Seacoast bluffs and rocky meadows, open forests, grasslands and sagebrush shrublands to dry, open, gravelly subalpine sites
Elevation: 30-3600 m

Alta., B.C., Sask., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., Oreg., S.Dak., Utah, Wash., Wyo.

Discussion

The presence or absence of bulbils is the only feature distinguishing Lithophragma glabrum and L. bulbiferum; for this reason L. bulbiferum is not recognized in this treatment. Bulbil production is extremely variable within the same clone in L. heterophyllum (R. L. Taylor 1965).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa