Erythranthe latidens

Annuals, fibrous-rooted or filiform-taprooted. Stems ascending to ascending-erect, geniculate at nodes, usually many-branched from base, 3–10(–25) cm, short stipitate-glandular or sessile-glandular, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm, gland-tipped. Leaves basal and cauline, largest at base or near mid stem, sometimes unreduced in size up to distalmost nodes; petiole 0 mm; cauline blade palmately 3(–5)-veined, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 8–26(–35) mm, base abruptly cuneate to rounded, sometimes subauriculate, margins entire or barely mucronulate to shallowly dentate-mucronulate, teeth or mucronulae 1–3 per side, apex acute to rounded, surfaces short stipitate-glandular or sessile-glandular, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm, gland-tipped. Flowers plesiogamous, (1–)3–12, from medial to distal nodes. Fruiting pedicels straight, 11–28 mm, short stipitate-glandular or sessile-glandular, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm, gland-tipped. Fruiting calyces purplish, prominently 5-angled, tubular-campanulate or ovoid-ellipsoid, strongly inflated, 8–12 mm, margins distinctly toothed or lobed, short stipitate-glandular or sessile-glandular, hairs 0.1–0.3 mm, gland-tipped, lobes pronounced, erect. Corollas white to pinkish or flesh colored, rarely yellowish, throat and abaxial lobes red-spotted, nearly radially symmetric; tube-throat cylindric, 5–6(–8) mm, exserted beyond calyx margin; limb barely widened, lobes broadly obovate, apex rounded. Styles glabrous. Anthers included, glabrous. Capsules included, 6–7 mm.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Drained flats or slopes subject to vernal inundation, depressions in open fields, bare clay soils, vacant lots, roadsides.
Elevation: 10–800 m.

Calif., Oreg., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

The distinction between Erythranthe latidens and E. inflatula sometimes seems arbitrary, perhaps because of gene exchange where they are sympatric in northwestern California. Erythranthe latidens in Oregon is known only from southern Harney County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa