Heuchera sanguinea
Heuchera parvifolia
coralbells
common alum-root, littleleaf alum-root
20–40 cm, short and sometimes long stipitate-glandular.
4–71 cm, short stipitate-glandular.
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 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.
moderately dense to diffuse.
dense at anthesis, diffuse in fruit.
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 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.
ovoid, 4.5–6 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.
ovoid or subglobose, 3–6 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.
dark brown, ellipsoid, 0.5–0.6 mm, bluntly spiny.
dark brown, ovoid-ellipsoid, 0.6–1 mm.
= 14, 28.
Heuchera sanguinea
Heuchera parvifolia
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.)
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.)
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