Flora of North America species comparison

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.)

Some features of Heuchera cylindrica show great variation, including the type and amount of indument on the leaves, petioles, and stems, lobation and shape of leaf base, difference in flower size, complicated by rapid growth of the hypanthium during and after anthesis, change in filament-to-anther ratio before and after anthesis, relative degree of development of bracts of flowering stems, degree of disc development, and relative length and degree of divergence of the beaklike styles of the fruit. We agree with P. K. Holmgren and N. H. Holmgren (1997) that there is no value in recognizing infraspecific taxa in H. cylindrica until a more thorough phylogenetic study can show some correlation between morphological variation and infraspecific categories.

A new species, Heuchera woodsiaphila P. Alexander, from between 2550 and 2900 meters elevation in the Capitan Mountains of Lincoln County, New Mexico, was published just as this treatment was going to press, and there was not adequate time to evaluate it or add it here. Alexander considered it closest to H. cylindrica, but pointed out that its proper status is difficult to determine and that it might be better treated as a variety of H. cylindrica.

The Blackfoot Indians used decoctions of roots of Heuchera cylindrica for diarrhea and as an astringent. The Flathead infused or chewed roots for diarrhea and stomach cramps. The Kutenai used decoctions of roots for “aching bones” and tuberculosis. The Okanagan-Colville used decoctions of roots as a tonic for the “changing of the blood” and, especially for children and babies, to rinse out the mouth for sore throats. They applied a poultice of mashed, peeled roots to sores and cuts, and mixed roots with puffball spores as a salve for diaper rash. The Shuswap Indians took decoctions of leaves and roots for diarrhea. The Thompson Indians applied chewed leaves and roots on sores or wounds and drank an infusion of roots for liver trouble (D. E. Moerman 1998).

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