Cordylanthus tenuis subsp. brunneus

Stems glabrous proximally, glandular-puberulent distally. Leaves green, sometimes tinged purple, entire or 3-lobed, lobes filiform. Inflorescences 1- or 2-flowered, flowers in loose clusters; bracts green to purple, entire or 3-lobed, puberulent, often glabrous distally, without long hairs. Flowers: corolla 12–16 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Jul.
Habitat: Serpentine in mixed evergreen forests and chaparral.
Elevation: 200–1400 m.

Distribution

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Calif.

Discussion

Subspecies brunneus is a serpentine endemic with glabrous or slightly puberulent stems and leaves with filiform lobes. T. I. Chuang and L. R. Heckard (1986) recognized subsp. capillaris as a distinct subspecies, closely related to subsp. brunneus but distinguished by glabrous stems and three-lobed proximal bracts. These characteristics are not reliable, varying even on a single plant. When combined, the two form a coherent subspecies distinguished by filiform leaf lobes, tendency to grow on serpentine, and distribution.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.