Plants 4–12 cm. Leaves: basal 6–8, blade elliptic or spatulate, 35–120 x 10–30 mm, undivided or 1- or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes nonoverlapping or extensively overlapping distally, entire or 1- or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous or scattered abaxial glands; cauline 0–4, blade elliptic, sometimes lanceolate, 20–110 x 5–30 mm, 1- or 2-pinnatifid, margins of adjacent lobes overlapping distally, 1- or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous. Racemes simple, 1–4, not exceeding basal leaves, each 8–14-flowered; bracts spatulate, 40–60 x 3–6 mm, undivided proximally, undivided or 1-pinnatifid distally, proximal margins entire, distal 1- or 2-serrate, surfaces glabrous, sometimes arachnoid along main veins. Pedicels 1–5 mm. Flowers: calyx 17–22 mm, glabrous, lobes 5, narrowly triangular, 4–7 mm, apex entire or serrate, glabrous or ciliate; corolla 28–40 mm, tube white or pale purple, 15–30 mm; galea white or pale purple, apically sometimes dark violet to purple, 13–15 mm, beakless, margins entire medially and distally, apex arching over abaxial lip; abaxial lip purple, 1–4 mm.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

The leaves of Pedicularis centranthera exceed the inflorescence, giving the impression that the cauline leaves are basal. Proximalmost basal leaves are distinct: brown, membranous, and spatulate with undivided and entire margins. Pedicularis semibarbata has similar basal leaves.

Pedicularis centranthera occurs in evergreen forests, often under pinyon pine, juniper, ponderosa pine, and yellow pine.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Pedicularis centranthera var. centranthera, Pedicularis centranthera var. exulans

Key

1	Bracts arachnoid and/or margins ciliate.	Pedicularis centranthera var. centranthera
1	Bracts glabrous.	Pedicularis centranthera var. exulans