Castilleja ambigua var. humboldtiensis

(D. D. Keck) J. M. Egger

Phytologia 90: 67. 2008.

Common names: Humboldt Bay owl’s-clover
EndemicConservation concern
Basionym: Orthocarpus castillejoides var. humboldtiensis D. D. Keck Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., ser. 4, 16: 536. 1927
Synonyms: Castilleja ambigua subsp. humboldtiensis (D. D. Keck) T. I. Chuang & Heckard
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 17. Treatment on page 585. Mentioned on page 584.

Stems ± short-decumbent proximally, becoming erect to ascending, unbranched or few-branched from mid-stem. Leaves narrowly oblong to linear, oblong, or lanceolate, cupshaped, ± fleshy, apex rounded. Bracts proximally green or brownish purple, distally pink to purple on lobe apices; lobes ascending, oblong, 20–23 mm, usually arising above mid length. Calyces with all 4 clefts subequal; lateral clefts 3 mm, ca. 15% of calyx length. Corollas 21–24 mm; beak pink or purplish, 5–7 mm; abaxial lip yellow, becoming orange or red-purple after anthesis; teeth deep pinkish purple, often with whitish bases.


Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jul(–Aug).
Habitat: Upper margins of Salicornia salt marshes, saline flats.
Elevation: 0–10 m.

Discussion

Variety humboldtiensis has purplish flowers and bract apices and is limited to the upper edge of Salicornia-dominated salt marshes in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, where it replaces var. ambigua. Most populations are around Humboldt Bay. Reports of var. humboldtiensis from Tomales Bay in Marin County are based on plants of the salt marsh form of var. ambigua and have yellowish flowers. Variety humboldtiensis is threatened by coastal development.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.55 cm5.5 mm <br />0.0055 m <br />) +
red-purple +, orange +  and yellow +
stipitate-glandular +
rounded +
J. Mark Egger +, Peter F. Zika +, Barbara L. Wilson +, Richard E. Brainerd +  and Nick Otting +
(D. D. Keck) J. M. Egger +
Orthocarpus castillejoides var. humboldtiensis +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br />) +
curved +  and straight +
short-hairy +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
not +, leathery +  and fleshy +
brownish purple distally pink;purple +
(0-)3-5(-7)-lobed +, ovate +, oblong +  and lanceolate +
purple +, white +, green +  and pale yellowish +
2-lobed +, lobed +  and tubular +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (2.3 cm23 mm <br />0.023 m <br />) +
taprooted;fibrous-rooted or rhizomatous +
fleshy +  and woody +
subequal +
Humboldt Bay owl’s-clover +
purple +, pink +, red +, orange +, yellow +, white +, green +  and pale greenish +
divided +  and tubular +
2.1 cm21 mm <br />0.021 m <br /> (2.4 cm24 mm <br />0.024 m <br />) +
0–10 m. +
2 +  and 1 +
indehiscent +, septicidal +, loculicidal +  and dehiscence +
Upper margins of Salicornia salt marshes, saline flats. +
sparse +  and moderately dense +
short-stipitate-glandular +
9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br /> (13 cm130 mm <br />0.13 m <br />) +
1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br /> (9 cm90 mm <br />0.09 m <br />) +
axillary +  and terminal +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br />) +
spiral +, whorled +, alternate +  and opposite +
0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br /> (0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br />) +
brownish +  and green +
deciduous +
basal +  and cauline +
cup-shaped;narrowly oblong;linear oblong or lanceolate +
0.8 cm8 mm <br />0.008 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
3 (?) +, 2 (?) +  and 4 (?) +
subequal +
short to long +
3-5(-7)-lobed +  and plane +
acute;obtuse +
tenuinucellate +  and unitegmic +
campylotropous-like +
Flowering Apr–Jul(–Aug). +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.7 cm7 mm <br />0.007 m <br />) +
stramineous +
20 +  and 100 +
trapezoidal +, oblong-ovoid +, pyramidal +  and ovoid +
Endemic +  and Conservation concern +
non-secund +  and secund +
elongate +
subequal +
few-branched +  and unbranched +
aerial +  and subterranean +
erect +  and ascending +
pubescent +  and glabrous +
not fleshy +
2-lobed +  and entire +
Castilleja ambigua subsp. humboldtiensis +
Castilleja ambigua var. humboldtiensis +
Castilleja ambigua +
variety +
pinkish purple +
spreading +  and erect +
reduced +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
expanded +
1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br /> (2.1 cm21 mm <br />0.021 m <br />) +
biennial +  and annual +