Castilleja parviflora var. albida
in C. L. Hitchcock et al., Vasc. Pl. Pacif. N.W. 4: 317. 1959.
Herbs 0.6–2.7 dm. Leaves broadly, sometimes narrowly, lanceolate to elliptic, margins plane to ± wavy, (0–)3–5(–7)-lobed, apex acute to obtuse; lobes ascending, lanceolate. Bracts distally white to cream, sometimes suffused with pink to purple, 3–5(–7)-lobed; lobes lanceolate, arising at or above mid length. Calyces green to purple or red, distally white to pink, 12–17(–21) mm; abaxial clefts (6–)7–8 mm, adaxial 8–10 mm, abaxial ca. 40% of calyx length, adaxial ca. 33% of calyx length, lateral 2–6 mm, 15–25% of calyx length; lobes triangular, apex acute, sometimes obtuse. Corollas 12–20(–25) mm; tube 8–11 mm; subequal to calyx or beak exserted, 5.5–8 mm; abaxial lip green, brown, or yellow; teeth white to yellow, sometimes pinkish.
Phenology: Flowering (Jun–)Jul–Sep.
Habitat: Moist to wet meadows, snowmelt streams, receding shorelines, subalpine to lower alpine.
Elevation: 1200–2500 m.
Discussion
Variety albida is found in the Cascade Range of southern British Columbia southward to the Wenatchee Mountains of Washington. In central British Columbia, the point of transition into var. parviflora still needs definition. Variety albida is characterized by whitish to cream bracts, although some plants in Okanogan County, Washington, have pink or purple bracts in mixed populations with white-bracted plants.
Selected References
None.