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coralbells

tuft alumroot, urn-flower alum-root

Habit Herbs acaulescent; caudex branched. Herbs subcaulescent; caudex branched.
Flowering stems

20–40 cm, short and sometimes long stipitate-glandular.

10–40 cm, long stipitate-glandular.

Leaves

petiole long stipitate-glandular;

blade reniform to orbiculate, shallowly 5–7-lobed, 2–5.5 cm, base cordate, lobes rounded, margins dentate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces long stipitate-glandular on veins abaxially, glabrous or sparsely long stipitate-glandular adaxially.

petiole long stipitate-glandular;

blade reniform or orbiculate, shallowly 5-lobed, 1–4 cm, base cordate or truncate, lobes rounded, margins dentate, apex obtuse, surfaces short or long stipitate-glandular.

Inflorescences

moderately dense to diffuse.

Flowers

hypanthium weakly bilaterally to radially symmetric, free 2.5–2.8 mm, dark pink to red, broadly campanulate or urceolate, 4–8 mm, short stipitate-glandular proximally, sparsely long stipitate-glandular distally;

sepals spreading, darker red-tipped, equal, 2–3 mm, apex oblong or rounded;

petals spreading, pink or cream, narrowly oblanceolate, unlobed, 1.2–1.8 mm (shorter than sepals), margins entire;

stamens included 1.5–3 mm;

styles included 1.5–3 mm, 1.5–2 mm, 0.1+ mm diam.

hypanthium strongly bilaterally symmetric, free 2–2.8 mm on adaxial side, pink to purplish, narrowly campanulate, widening at mouth, 4–7 mm, short stipitate-glandular proximally, long stipitate-glandular distally;

sepals spreading, green-tipped, equal, 1–1.2 mm, apex rounded;

petals spreading, white, oblanceolate, (clawed), unlobed, 2–2.5 mm (longer than sepals), margins entire;

stamens included 0.5 mm to exserted 0.5 mm;

styles to 0.5 mm included, 1.5 mm, 0.1+ mm diam.

Capsules

ovoid, 4.5–6 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.

ovoid, 4 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.

Seeds

dark brown, ellipsoid, 0.5–0.6 mm, bluntly spiny.

dark brown, ellipsoid, 0.7 mm.

Inflorescenses

moderately dense.

Heuchera sanguinea

Heuchera caespitosa

Phenology Flowering Mar–Oct. Flowering Jun.
Habitat Moist, shaded rocks Shaded, rocky slopes
Elevation 1200-2600 m (3900-8500 ft) 1900-2300 m (6200-7500 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM; Mexico (Chihuahua)
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Heuchera sanguinea occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Chihuahua, Mexico, and is widely cultivated throughout the cooler parts of North America.

Heuchera sanguinea varies considerably within populations in shape, lobing, and size of leaves, in amount of hairs, and in shape, form, and color of flowers. Rydberg recognized var. pulchra as characterized by denser inflorescences and longer hairs on its pedicels, inferior part of the ovary, and sepals. Mixed populations with individuals bearing longer and shorter hairs can be found throughout the range of the species, especially in Arizona. It seems best to recognize H. sanguinea as a variable species without infraspecific taxa.

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

Of conservation concern.

Heuchera caespitosa occurs in the western Transverse Ranges in Kern, San Bernardino, Tulare, and Ventura counties, and in the Outer South Coast Ranges, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, and southern Sierra Nevada. It is very similar to H. abramsii, H. brevistaminea, H. hirsutissima, and H. pulchella; the group needs thorough phylogenetic analysis.

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

Source FNA vol. 8, p. 100. FNA vol. 8, p. 100.
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. glomerulata, 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. villosa, H. wootonii
H. abramsii, H. alba, H. americana, H. bracteata, H. brevistaminea, 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. parvifolia, H. pilosissima, H. pubescens, H. pulchella, H. richardsonii, H. rubescens, H. sanguinea, H. villosa, H. wootonii
Synonyms H. sanguinea var. pulchra
Name authority Engelmann: in F. A. Wislizenus, Mem. Tour N. Mexico, 107. 1848 , Eastwood: Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 2, 6: 426, plate 57. (1896)
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