Erythranthe diffusa

Annuals, taprooted. Stems erect, simple or branched from basal nodes, 4–20 cm, minutely puberulent. Leaves cauline, basal not persistent; petiole 0 mm; blade 1-veined or palmately 3-veined (in broader ones), lanceolate to ovate, 3–20 × 1–6 mm, base attenuate, margins entire, sometimes toothed, apex acute, surfaces minutely puberulent. Flowers herkogamous, 1–36, from distal or medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels ascending to spreading horizontally, (2–)12–60(–68) mm. Fruiting calyces sometimes red-dotted, campanulate, 3–6 mm, margins distinctly toothed or lobed, minutely puberulent, ribs weak, lobes pronounced, erect, margins glabrous. Corollas pink to purple, abaxial limb with 2 yellow palate ridges, bilaterally symmetric, weakly bilabiate; tube-throat funnelform, (3–)6–10 mm, exserted beyond calyx margin; limb expanded 3–14 mm, lobes notched, adaxial limb glabrous, sometimes sparsely bearded. Styles distally pubescent. Stigmas distinctly shorter than corolla tube. Anthers included, glabrous. Capsules included, 5–8 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Moist areas in openings of chaparral, dry meadows in pine and oak woodlands.
Elevation: 300–1800 m.

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Erythranthe diffusa has been included previously in E. palmeri but can be distinguished morphologically by glabrous margins on the calyx and pubescence on the distal end of the style. It occurs in Orange, Riverside, and San Diego counties as well as close to the California border in Baja California.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa