Herbs, perennial, (0.8–)1–5(–6) dm; from a branched, woody caudex; with a taproot. Stems few to many, erect, ascending, or decumbent, unbranched or branched, hairs sparse to dense, spreading, long, soft to ± stiff, eglandular, mixed with shorter stipitate-glandular ones. Leaves green to purplish or brown, linear to broadly lanceolate, sometimes ovate, 1–6 cm, not fleshy, margins wavy, involute, (0–)3(–5)-lobed, apex rounded or narrowly acute to acuminate; lobes spreading or ascending, lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, often short, apex acute to rounded. Inflorescences 2–12(–21 in fruit) × 1–5 cm; bracts proximally green to dull purplish brown, distally red, red-orange, or scarlet, sometimes orange, white, or yellow, rarely with a narrow yellowish band medially, lanceolate, broadly lanceolate, oblong, or lanceolate-ovate, 3–5(–7)-lobed; lobes spreading to ascending, linear, sometimes expanded near tip, long, arising from ca. mid length, central lobe apex obtuse to rounded, sometimes expanded, others acute, rounded, obtuse, or acuminate. Calyces proximally green or whitish, sometimes yellow, lobes colored as bract lobes, sometimes with a yellow band between proximal and distal portions, 13–25 mm; abaxial and adaxial clefts 4–14 mm, 33–50% of calyx length, deeper than laterals, lateral 2.5–8 mm, 12–50% of calyx length; lobes lanceolate-acuminate, narrowly oblong, or narrowly triangular, apex acuminate, acute, or obtuse. Corollas straight or curved in proximal 1/3, 16–35(–41) mm; tube 9–22 mm; beak usually long-exserted, adaxially green, yellow-green, or yellow, 6–20 mm; abaxial lip deep green to whitish or yellow, reduced, inconspicuous, protuberant, thickened, included or exserted, 1–3 mm, 5–20% as long as beak; teeth ascending or incurved, deep green to yellow, 0.5–1 mm. 2n = 24, 48.

Distribution

w United States.

Discussion

Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).

Castilleja applegatei is a widespread and often common species, with complex patterns of variation and several common but inconstant color forms, especially in var. pinetorum. Castilleja disticha and C. martini, although sometimes included as subspecies within C. applegatei, are treated as species here. Both are more morphologically divergent and more easily distinguished from typical C. applegatei than are the four varieties accepted here. Variety pinetorum is the most widespread form and also occurs over a wider range of elevations than the other three varieties, which are primarily montane to subalpine and occasionally alpine.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Castilleja applegatei var. applegatei, Castilleja applegatei var. breweri, Castilleja applegatei var. pinetorum, Castilleja applegatei var. viscida

Key

1	Corollas 25–41 mm, beaks 9–20 mm, tubes 15–22 mm; leaves usually 0–3-lobed.	> 2
2	Corollas 34–41 mm; herbs 1–2.5(–3.5) dm; 2100–2800 m; Crater Lake to Newberry Crater, Cascade Range, Oregon.	Castilleja applegatei var. applegatei
2	Corollas 25–35 mm; herbs 1.2–6 dm; 300–3600 m; California to Oregon and Idaho.	Castilleja applegatei var. pinetorum
1	Corollas 16–31 mm, beaks 6–14 mm, tubes 9–14 mm; leaves usually 3–5-lobed.	> 3
3	Corolla beaks 6–10 mm; abaxial and adaxial calyx clefts (4–)5–8(–10) mm.	Castilleja applegatei var. breweri
3	Corolla beaks 9–14 mm; abaxial and adaxial calyx clefts 7–14 mm.	Castilleja applegatei var. viscida