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child's blue-eyed Mary, child's collinsia

blue-eyed Mary, collinsia, few flower blue eyed Mary, maiden blue eyed Mary, small-flower blue-eyed-Mary, small-flower collinsia

Habit Annuals 8–35 cm, not fleshy. Annuals 3–40 cm.
Stems

erect to ascending.

erect to ascending.

Leaf

blades oblong to lanceolate or oblanceolate, length usually less than 6 times width, base of distals tapered, margins entire or serrulate.

blades ± linear-lanceolate, obovate, or narrowly elliptic, margins subentire.

Inflorescences

densely glandular;

nodes 2–5-flowered;

flowers not crowded;

distalmost bracts linear, 2–3(+) mm.

glabrous or sparsely and finely glandular;

proximal nodes 1-flowered, distals 3–5(–7)-flowered;

flowers not crowded proximally, sometimes crowded distally;

distalmost bracts linear, 5–6 mm.

Pedicels

spreading to ascending, longer than calyx, visible.

ascending to reflexed, longer than calyx, visible.

Flowers

calyx campanulate, lobes lanceolate, surpassing capsule, apex subacute to rounded;

corolla whitish or pale lavender, banner base with central field of purple spots, 6–9(–11) mm, glabrate;

banner length 0.9–1 times wings, lobe base without folds;

stamens: filaments glabrous, basal spur 0.

calyx lobes ± deltate, equal to capsule, apex sharply acute to acuminate;

corolla blue, banner whitish or blue-tipped, 4–8 mm, glabrous;

banner length 0.8–1 times wings, lobe base without folds;

banner lobes and wings blue, sometimes purplish, oblong, 1(–3) mm wide;

throat barely angled to tube, tube and throat white, narrowed to lips, pouch angular, ± hidden by calyx;

stamens: filaments glabrous, basal spur 0.

Seeds

2, ovate to oval, 2–3 mm, margins thickened, inrolled.

(3 or)4, oblong, 2–2.5 mm, margins thickened, inrolled.

2n

= 14, 28, 42.

Collinsia childii

Collinsia parviflora

Phenology Flowering (Apr–)May–Jul. Flowering Mar–Jul.
Habitat Shaded slopes, mixed oak-conifer woodlands. Forests, grasslands, meadows, eroded banks, bedrock depressions, scree slopes, shrublands, shaded shorelines.
Elevation 1000–2200 m. (3300–7200 ft.) 0–3500 m. (0–11500 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; AZ; CA; CO; ID; MA; MI; MT; ND; NE; NM; NV; OR; PA; SD; UT; VT; WA; WY; AB; BC; MB; NS; ON; SK; YT
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Collinsia childii occurs principally on shaded, rocky soil. It is most common in the Sierra Nevada and Transverse ranges in the interior of southern California. There are also isolated populations in the South Coast Ranges.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Collinsia parviflora is the closest relative of C. grandiflora and is primarily a plant of moist montane habitats with well-drained, rocky or sandy soil. However, it occurs in a wide range of habitats across its entire range. The species is also the most widespread taxon within Collinsia. Some plants from the western coastal ranges may be difficult to separate from C. grandiflora.

Collinsia parviflora is frequently confused with C. wrightii. The corollas of C. wrightii are distinctly purplish; those of C. parviflora are bright blue. The acute to acuminate sepals of C. parviflora contrast with the blunt, rounded tips of sepals of C. wrightii.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 17, p. 70. FNA vol. 17, p. 66.
Parent taxa Plantaginaceae > Collinsia Plantaginaceae > Collinsia
Sibling taxa
C. antonina, C. bartsiifolia, C. callosa, C. concolor, C. corymbosa, C. grandiflora, C. greenei, C. heterophylla, C. latifolia, C. linearis, C. multicolor, C. parryi, C. parviflora, C. rattanii, C. sparsiflora, C. tinctoria, C. torreyi, C. verna, C. violacea, C. wrightii
C. antonina, C. bartsiifolia, C. callosa, C. childii, C. concolor, C. corymbosa, C. grandiflora, C. greenei, C. heterophylla, C. latifolia, C. linearis, C. multicolor, C. parryi, C. rattanii, C. sparsiflora, C. tinctoria, C. torreyi, C. verna, C. violacea, C. wrightii
Synonyms C. grandiflora var. pusilla
Name authority Parry e× A. Gray: in A. Gray et al., Syn. Fl. N. Amer. 2(1): 257. (1878) Lindley: Bot. Reg. 13: plate 1082. (1827)
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