Leptosiphon bicolor

Leptosiphon bicolor
	photo by Ben Legler, also featured on Main Page
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae;
Subkingdom:	Viridiplantae;
Phylum:	Tracheophyta;
Subphylum:	Spermatophytina;
Class:	Magnoliopsida;
Subclass:	Asteranae;
Order:	Ericales;
Family:	Polemoniaceae;
Genus:	Leptosiphon Benth.;
Species:	Leptosiphon bicolor Nutt.;
Synonyms
	Linanthus bicolor (Nutt.) Greene; Linanthus bicolor ssp. bicolor (Nutt.) Greene;

Latin Name: Leptosiphon bicolor
Family: Polemoniaceae
Common Names: bicolored babystars, bicolored linanthus
Synonyms/Misapplications: Linanthus bicolor
Codon: LEPBIC

Taxonomy

Description

Annual, slender taprooted herb.

Opposite, sessile, palmately lobed leaves, leaf segments linear-elongate.^[1]The leaves of the inflorescence larger and often more lobed than the cauline leaves.^[2]

Inflorescence dense, bracteate heads, flowers subsessile, corolla tube 12-30 mm, flowers pink to white, generally bicolored. Calyx more or less glabrous, sometimes scarcely hispid on outer surface or with marginal cilia.^[1]

Fruits are 3-chambered capsules, bearing several seeds per capsule.^[2]

From Greek lepto, narrow, siphon, tube, for shape of corolla tube.^[1]

Bloom Period

April- June^[3]

Distribution

West Cascades, southwest B. C., to California, east through the Columbia Gorge, and east side of Cacsades in Oregon.^[1]

Habitat

Open, grassy places at lower elevation.^[1]

Seed

Seed sample from: 2011

Leptosiphon seeds, photo by Lisa Hintz

Average Measurement: 1.3 x 0.8 x 0.7

Measurement Range: L: 1.1 – 1.75, W: 0.6 – 1, D: 0.5 – 1

Features

Shape: Seeds somewhat tear shaped, others elliptical.

Color: Seeds partially translucent and brown. Hilium inconspicuous.

Surface: Seeds bumpy and somewhat corrugated, giving them a “brain-like” texture. Seeds slightly glossy.

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical

Longitudinal cross section: elliptical , and at times, obovate

Photo Gallery

Photo by Ray Izumi, 2013
Photo by Lisa Hintz

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2020. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2020-06-09 2:18:57 PM ]
↑ WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Leptosiphon%20bicolor

[:0-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Hitchcock, C. L., Cronquist, A., Giblin, D., & Legler, B. et al. (2018). Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. Seattle: University of Washington Press.

[:1-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Klinkenberg, Brian. (Editor) 2020. E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia [eflora.bc.ca]. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. [Accessed: 2020-06-09 2:18:57 PM ]

[3] WTU Herbarium, Burke Museum, & University of Washington. Retrieved from https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Leptosiphon%20bicolor

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