Synthyris rubra
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 10: 455. 1846.
Leaves strictly annual, disintegrating in 1st year; blade oblong-ovate to ovate, 25+ mm wide, leathery, base cuneate, truncate, or rounded to lobate, sometimes cordate, margins crenate, teeth apices acute to rounded, surfaces sparsely hairy; basal veins extending into distal 1/2 of blade, lateral veins 3–6 on each side of midvein. Racemes erect, to 45 cm in fruit; sterile bracts 10–30, ovate-spatulate, largest 1+ cm; flowers 100+, densely aggregated (separating in fruit). Sepals 4, basal connation between abaxial and adaxial lobes on each side of flower. Petals 1–4, apex entire or erose; corolla reddish, bluish purple, green, or white, bilabiate or unilabiate, rudimentary, much shorter than calyx, glabrous, lateral and abaxial petals of abaxial lip connate 1/2+ their lengths, abaxial and adaxial petal lips basally adnate to stamens, tube absent. Stamens inserted on receptacle. Ovaries: ovules 17–40. Capsules densely hairy.
Phenology: Flowering Mar–Jun; fruiting Apr–Jul.
Habitat: Grasslands, open coniferous forests.
Elevation: 200–1700 m.
Distribution
Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.
Discussion
Natural hybrids of Synthyris missurica and S. rubra occur near Kamiah, Idaho (A. R. Kruckeberg and F. L. Hedglin 1963).
Selected References
None.