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Chiricahua Mountain alum-root

common alum-root, littleleaf alum-root

Habit Herbs acaulescent; caudex branched. Herbs acaulescent; caudex branched or unbranched.
Flowering stems

25–40 cm, long stipitate-glandular.

4–71 cm, short stipitate-glandular.

Leaves

petiole short stipitate-glandular;

blade (purple abaxially, variegated adaxially), ovate to orbiculate, shallowly 5-lobed, 2.5–9 cm, base cordate, lobes rounded, margins dentate, apex obtuse, surfaces short stipitate-glandular, long stipitate-glandular on veins abaxially, short stipitate-glandular and sparsely long stipitate-glandular adaxially.

petiole glabrate or short stipitate-glandular;

blade orbiculate or reniform to broadly cordate, shallowly to deeply 5–7-lobed, 1–8 cm, base cordate, lobes rounded, margins dentate, apex obtuse, surfaces (glaucous), glabrate or short stipitate-glandular, sometimes long stipitate-glandular along veins abaxially, glabrate or short stipitate-glandular adaxially.

Inflorescences

dense, (interrupted).

dense at anthesis, diffuse in fruit.

Flowers

hypanthium radially symmetric, free 0.8–1.2 mm, yellowish green, campanulate, 3.5–5 mm, densely long stipitate-glandular mixed with short stipitate-glandular;

sepals erect or incurved at tip, green-tipped, equal, 1.5–2 mm, apex acute;

petals erect, white, narrowly oblanceolate, (clawed), unlobed, 1.5–1.8 mm, margins entire;

stamens included 0.5 mm; (filaments strongly incurved, slender, shorter than and almost concealed by anthers);

styles included 1 mm, to 0.5 mm, 0.1+ mm diam.

hypanthium radially symmetric, free 0.4–1 mm, greenish or cream to yellow, flat, saucer-shaped, 2.5–5 mm, short stipitate-glandular and sometimes sparsely long stipitate-glandular;

sepals reflexed, green- or red-tipped, equal, 0.5–1.5 mm, apex acute;

petals reflexed, white, elliptic or rhombic, (clawed), unlobed, 0.7–3 mm, margins entire;

nectary tissue or disc encircling base of styles at junction of ovary and free hypanthium yellow or orange, exposed;

stamens included 0.5 mm, (incurved over stigmas);

styles included 1–1.5 mm, 0.3–0.5 mm, 0.1+ mm diam.

Capsules

ovoid, 4–5 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.

ovoid or subglobose, 3–6 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.

Seeds

black, fusiform, 0.5 mm.

dark brown, ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.6–1 mm.

2n

= 14.

= 14, 28.

Heuchera glomerulata

Heuchera parvifolia

Phenology Flowering May. Flowering May–Sep.
Habitat Shaded, rocky slopes Rock outcrops in valleys, foothills, canyon walls, subalpine and alpine slopes
Elevation 1300-2000 m (4300-6600 ft) 1200-3900 m (3900-12800 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AZ; CA; CO; ID; MT; NM; NV; UT; WY; AB; SK
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Heuchera glomerulata occurs in the Chiricahua and Pinaleno mountains of southeastern Arizona and in New Mexico.

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

The specific epithet, parvifolia, is similar to that of another species, Heuchera parviflora, but these two species are distinct and have legitimate names. C. O. Rosendahl et al. (1936) recognized five species and eight varieties in the H. parvifolia complex, based on differences in development of the nectary disc, shapes of the hypanthium, disc, and petals, width of the leaves, lengths of the peduncle and flowers, type of indument of the petiole and peduncle, height of the inflorescence, and degree of lobing of the leaves. Some of their varieties intergrade completely. As P. K. Holmgren and N. H. Holmgren (1997) observed, expressions of some of these characters vary with the stage of development of the plant, and there seems to be no correlation of morphology with geographical distribution. Accordingly, we do not recognize infraspecific taxa in this polymorphic species.

The Blackfoot Indians used pounded, wet roots of Heuchera parvifolia for rheumatism and sores, and an infusion of the roots as an eyewash. They applied a poultice of chewed roots to wounds and sores, as a styptic, and to cold sores and children’s mouth cankers. The Navajo used the plant as a panacea or “life medicine” and for rat bites. They took a decoction of the roots for stomachaches and to ease the delivery of the placenta, and an infusion of the roots as a lotion for venereal disease (D. E. Moerman 1998).

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

Source FNA vol. 8, p. 103. FNA vol. 8, p. 104.
Parent taxa Saxifragaceae > Heuchera Saxifragaceae > Heuchera
Sibling taxa
H. abramsii, H. alba, H. americana, H. bracteata, H. brevistaminea, H. caespitosa, H. caroliniana, H. chlorantha, H. cylindrica, H. eastwoodiae, H. elegans, H. glabra, H. grossulariifolia, H. hallii, H. hirsutissima, H. longiflora, H. maxima, H. merriamii, H. micrantha, H. novamexicana, H. parishii, H. parviflora, H. parvifolia, H. pilosissima, H. pubescens, H. pulchella, H. richardsonii, H. rubescens, H. sanguinea, H. villosa, H. wootonii
H. abramsii, H. alba, H. americana, H. bracteata, H. brevistaminea, H. caespitosa, H. caroliniana, H. chlorantha, H. cylindrica, H. eastwoodiae, H. elegans, H. glabra, H. glomerulata, H. grossulariifolia, H. hallii, H. hirsutissima, H. longiflora, H. maxima, H. merriamii, H. micrantha, H. novamexicana, H. parishii, H. parviflora, H. pilosissima, H. pubescens, H. pulchella, H. richardsonii, H. rubescens, H. sanguinea, H. villosa, H. wootonii
Synonyms H. duranii, H. flabellifolia, H. flabellifolia var. subsecta, H. flavescens, H. nivalis, H. parvifolia var. arizonica, H. parvifolia var. flavescens, H. parvifolia var. nivalis, H. parvifolia var. utahensis, H. utahensis
Name authority Rosendahl: Minnesota Stud. Pl. Sci. 2: 155. (1936) Nuttall ex Torrey & A. Gray: Fl. N. Amer. 1: 581. (1840)
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