Herbs 1.8–12 dm. Stems usually dull reddish, hairs spreading, short or long. Leaves pale gray-green to ± ash-colored, rarely dull reddish purple, linear to linear-lanceolate, margins plane; lobe apex acute to obtuse. Inflorescences 3–30 × 1–7 cm; bracts distally or entirely red to red-orange, rarely yellow, 0(–3)-lobed. Calyces red or red-orange throughout, or proximally green to purple, distally red to red-orange, rarely yellow, 20–38 mm; abaxial clefts 13–23 mm, adaxial 7–17 mm, lateral 3–7.5 mm, lobe apex acute to acuminate. Corollas 25–50 mm; beak exceeding calyx, beak, and abaxial lip, often part of tube usually exserted out abaxial cleft; beak adaxially green to yellow-green, rarely yellow, margins red to orange, rarely yellow, not strongly contrasting with color of calyces; abaxial lip green, reddish, blackish, or deep red-purple; teeth green, purplish red, or blackish, 0.5–1 mm. 2n = 24, 48.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jul.
Habitat: Dry, sandy or rocky slopes, desert scrub, foothill woodlands, chaparral.
Elevation: 300–1900 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Variety jepsonii is a chaparral associate found at moderate elevations in California, from the southwestern Sierra Nevada and Transverse ranges southward into northern Baja California, to at least as far as the Sierra San Pedro Mártir. It differs from var. subinclusa in its habitat and distribution, as well as the differences listed in the key.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.