Heuchera sanguinea
Heuchera rubescens
coralbells
mountain alumroot, pink alum-root, wild coral bells
20–40 cm, short and sometimes long stipitate-glandular.
(6–)10–32(–50) 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 glabrous or short to long stipitate-glandular;
blade suborbiculate or broadly ovate, shallowly 3–7-lobed, 0.6–4.5 cm, base cordate or truncate, lobes rounded, margins dentate, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces glabrous or long stipitate-glandular on veins abaxially, glabrous or short stipitate-glandular adaxially.
moderately dense to diffuse.
dense, diffuse in fruit, (often secund).
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 slightly bilaterally symmetric, free 0.5–2 mm, longer on adaxial side, pink to rose, narrowly campanulate with obconic base, becoming urceolate, 3–6.5 mm, short stipitate-glandular proximally, long stipitate-glandular distally;
sepals erect, often green- or red-tipped, equal or unequal (longer on abaxial side of hypanthium), 1–3.3 mm, apex obtuse or rounded;
petals spreading, pink, linear or narrowly oblanceolate, (clawed, ± equal), unlobed, 2–3(–6) mm (equaling or longer than sepals, rarely shorter), margins entire;
stamens exserted 0.8–3 mm;
styles exserted 0.5–2 mm, 1.5–2.5 mm, to 0.1 mm diam.
ovoid, 4.5–6 mm, beaks divergent, not papillose.
urceolate, 3–6 mm;
beaks divergent, papillose or not.
dark brown, ellipsoid, 0.5–0.6 mm, bluntly spiny.
dark brown, fusiform, 0.5–0.9 mm.
= 14, 28.
Heuchera sanguinea
Heuchera rubescens
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.)
Heuchera rubescens occurs throughout most of the Intermountain Region except the Uinta Mountains and basin in Utah.
This complex has always been extremely difficult taxonomically. Almost every minor variant in such characters as the level of insertion of stamens in relation to petals, the shape and length of hypanthium and petals, the size, hairiness, and shape of leaf blades, and the length of petioles has been given a name and recognized at various taxonomic ranks, often without correlation to any pattern of geographical distribution. We agree with P. K. Holmgren and N. H. Holmgren (1997) that, pending a thorough phylogenetic study, it seems best to recognize a single polymorphic species without infraspecific taxa.
The Gosiute Indians used a decoction of roots of Heuchera rubescens as an astringent on the skin and gave it to babies with colic. The Paiute used an infusion of roots as an eyewash and took a decoction of roots for venereal disease. The Shoshoni took an infusion of the roots for diarrhea and liver trouble or biliousness; they used a decoction of the roots for high fever, heart trouble, venereal disease, and general debility. They also used mashed, boiled leaves as a wash for horses’ saddle sores and gave soaked roots to horses and cows for cramps (D. E. Moerman 1998).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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