Pedicularis howellii

Plants 15–40 cm. Leaves: basal 1–4, blade elliptic to lanceolate, 20–60 x 15–40 mm, undivided or 1-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, serrate, surfaces glabrous; cauline 10–12, blade ovate to lanceolate, 25–60 x 15–40 mm, undivided or 1-pinnatifid, sometimes auricled, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or slightly overlapping distally, entire or serrate to crenate, surfaces glabrous or scattered woolly along main vein. Racemes simple, 1–8, exceeding basal leaves, each 15–40-flowered; bracts trullate to cordate, 6–8 x 4–8 mm, undivided, proximal margins entire, distal entire, surfaces glabrous or tomentose. Pedicels 2.5–3 mm. Flowers: calyx 6–6.5 mm, tomentose, lobes 5, triangular, 1.5–2 mm, apex entire, ciliate; corolla 10–13 mm, tube white, 6–8 mm; galea white, apically sometimes tinged with red to violet, 3.5–5 mm, beaked, beak straight, 1–2 mm, margins entire medially and distally, apex extending beyond abaxial lip; abaxial lip white, 1.5–2 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Alpine forest clearings and edges.
Elevation: 1100–2000.

Calif., Oreg.

Discussion

Pedicularis howellii is found in the Siskiyou Mountains along the California/Oregon border; it has undivided distal leaves. The division of the proximal leaves into irregular and asymmetric lobes, sometimes appearing auricled, is a unique feature of this species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa