Step |
Description |
Next Step or Species |
1 |
Plants shrubby; leaves linear & < 35 mm long |
>2 |
1 |
Plants herbaceous or woody only at the base; leaves linear or broader |
>4 |
2 |
Corolla blue, blue-purple, or reddish purple; 8-14 mm long, all lobes spreading; tube gradually expanded; desert grasslands in sNM (CA, HI, LU), sAZ, sCA, nMEX; Apr-Aug |
P thurberi |
2 |
Corolla pink externally, 15 24 mm long, white on the face of the lobes; upper lobes reflexed, lower lobes projecting; tube narrow and curved |
>3 |
3 |
Stems puberulous; sandy soils in eNM (BE, CU, DB, GU, LE, QU, RO, SF, TO, UN), eCO, wTX, wOK; (May) Jun-Jul (Aug) |
P ambiguus ambiguus |
3 |
Stems glabrous; sNM (ED, LU, SO), AZ, TX, NV, MEX; Jun-Jul |
P ambiguus laevissimus |
4 |
Leaves linear and short (< 35 mm long) |
>5 |
4 |
Leaves not linear or if linear, then much longer than 35 mm |
>10 |
5 |
Corollas red, 25-32 mm long, tubular, strongly bilabiate; inflorescence secund, glandular; anthers explanate, glabrous; staminode bearded most of length with bright yellow hairs; base of lower lobes with long, flat, yellow hairs; stems woody well above base; leaves small, needlelike, crowded on lower part of stems; rocky areas in swNM (CA, GR, ffl, SO), seAZ, nMEX; 5800-10,000 ft; Jun-Aug |
P pinifolius |
5 |
Corollas some shade of blue or purplish; bottom of corolla throat plicate (2-ridged) forming a low palate |
>6 |
6 |
Stems and leaves puberulous with flat, appressed scale-like hairs, especially on lower leaves; leaves scattered on flowering stems; calyx lobes acute or very short acuminate, scarious margined almost to tip [linarioides subspecies] |
>7 |
6 |
Stems and leaves puberulous with fine erect or retrorse hairs, or leaves glabrous; leaves numerous on flowering stems; calyx lobes long acuminate, scarious margined only at base [crandalli subspecies] |
>9 |
7 |
Principal leaves mostly lanceolate to oblanceolate; limestone cliffs; apparently last collected in NM in 1880 (Gila valley, GR), seAZ |
P linariodes maguirei |
7 |
Principal leaves essentially linear; base of lower lobes lightly bearded |
>8 |
8 |
Staminode sparsely bearded with short hairs, longer golden hairs in apical tuft; base of lower lobes lightly bearded; plants shorter (1-3.5 dm); resembles P. crandallii glabrescens in habit; vestiture variable; common in plains & foothills with sagebrush, PJ , oak in nwNM (CI, MC, RA, SJ) & swCO; 5200-8700 ft; Jun-Jul |
P linarioides coloradoensis |
8 |
Staminode more densely bearded with longer hairs for most of its length; base of lower lobes strongly bearded; plants relatively tall (2-5 dm), scoparioid, stern bases more-or-less woody; common in canyons & foothills in PJ & PIPO in swNM (DA, CA, GR, HI, LU, MC, SI, SO) & seAZ; 4500-6000 ft; Jun Aug |
P linarioides linarioides |
9 |
Leaves glabrous ventrally; dry hillsides in nwNM (CO, SA, RA, TA) & sCO; 6900-9000 ft; Jun-Aug |
P crandalli glabrescens |
9 |
Leaves puberulous with fine erect or retrorse hairs; ncNM near Taos (RA, TA) |
P crandalli taosensis |
10 |
Upper stem leaves connate perfoliate (upper stem leaves of P. superbus sometimes connate-perfoliate, but not serrate); corolla pink to rose, 25-35 mm; leaves usually serrate |
>11 |
10 |
Upper stem leaves sessile or subcordate; corollas various colors (rarely pink to rose or white); leaf margins various |
>12 |
11 |
Corolla expanding gradually, pale pink to rose; staminode glabrous; anthers explanate; plants glabrous, inflorescence glandular; rocky places in PJ/oak & PIPO in swNM (CA, DA, GR, HI), AZ, sNV, nMEX; 4500-7000 ft; Apr-Jun (Aug) |
P pseudospectabilis connatifolius |
11 |
Corolla expanding abruptly; staminode bearded; anthers explanate or not; plants glaucous, inflorescence glandular; disjunct in NM, but now established in at least two places along 140; cNM (BE, TO), cAZ & westward; 5000-7000 ft (in NM); May-Jun (in NM) |
P palmeri palmeri |
12 |
Corolla some shade of red but not pink to rose, usually tubular or slightly expanding |
>13 |
12 |
Corolla some shade of blue or purple (rarely white or pink) |
>22 |
13 |
Corolla constricted at orifice & with long yellow hairs; staminode bearded near tip; anthers minutely spinescent on sutures, opening all but the connective, & minutely puberulent |
>14 |
13 |
Corolla not constricted at orifice, with hairs or not; anthers glabrous or not, spinescent on sutures or not |
>15 |
14 |
Stem leaves moderately thin, broadly lanceolate, oblong, or lance-ovate, lower ones 10-20 cm long; calyx 3 mm long; rocky areas in PIPO & PSME in scNM only (LI, OT, SO - Capitan, Sacramento, & Oscura Mts); 6600-8800 ft; Jun Jul; RARE |
P cardinalis cardinalis |
14 |
Stem leaves moderately thick, ovate or subcordate, lower ones 5 6 cm long; calyx 4-6 mm long; rocky areas in chaparral, PJ, & PIPO in seNM (ED, OT), tpTX (Guadalupe Mts of both states); 4500-5500 ft; May Jun; RARE |
P cardinalis regalis |
15 |
Anther sacs dehiscent by a short slit across the connective, the tips remaining closed, U-shaped, sutures spinescent; corolla glandular, strongly bilabiate, upper lip projecting & forming galeate hood, glabrous within; staminode glabrous; sagebrush, PJ, oak, PIPO in wNM (CA), AZ, swCO, sUT, NV, sCA; 5200-9000 ft; (Jun) Jul-Aug (Oct) |
P rostriflorus |
15 |
Anther sacs completely or partially dehiscent, the tips open |
>16 |
16 |
Anther sacs explanate |
>17 |
16 |
Anther sacs not explanate |
>18 |
17 |
Staminode glabrous; foliage not glaucous; corolla bright red; rocky areas in limestone, Sacramento Mts only (DA, OT); 4300-5300 ft; May-Jun; RARE |
P alamoensis |
17 |
Staminode bearded; foliage strongly glaucous; corolla orange-pink to scarlet; PJ, oak, PIPO in rocky areas & washes in swNM (GR, ffl), seAZ, nMEX; 3500-5200 ft; Mar-Jim; RARE |
P superbus |
18 |
Corolla bilabiate but not strongly so, lower lobes short, rounded, usually spreading; throat glabrous |
>19 |
18 |
Corolla strongly bilabiate, lower lobes long, narrow, reflexed, upper lobes projecting; throat usually bearded [barbatus subspecies] |
>20 |
19 |
Corolla barely bilabiate, almost regular; inflorescence glabrous or puberulent; anthers U-shaped, opening at tips only, minutely puberulent, sutures denticulate; staminode glabrous to slightly bearded at tip; dry slopes & flats in sagebrush, PJ, & PIPO in nwNM (SJ), swCO, UT, AZ; 5000-9200 ft; Apr-Jun (Jul) |
P eatonii undosus |
19 |
Corolla strongly bilabiate, lower lobes long, narrow, reflexed, upper lobes projecting; throat usually bearded |
P lanceolatus |
20 |
Base of lower lobes bearded with yellow hairs; calyx lobes 6-10 mm long; PJ, oak, & PIPO in swNM (CA, GR, HI, SI), seAZ, tpTX, nMEX; 5200-10,000 ft; Jun-Sep |
P barbatus barbatus |
20 |
Base of lower lobes glabrous or bearded with a few white or yellowish hairs; calyx lobes < 6 mm long |
>21 |
21 |
Anthers bearded; dry hillsides in PJ, oak, PIPO in nwNM (CA, CI, MC, RA, SA, SJ, SO), swCO, seUT, neAZ; 5200-8200 ft; Jun-Aug |
P barbatus torreyi |
21 |
Anthers bearded; dry hillsides in PJ, oak, PIPO in nwNM (CA, CI, MC, RA, SA, SJ, SO), swCO, seUT, neAZ; 5200-8200 ft; Jun-Aug |
P barbatus trichander |
22 |
Foliage glabrous and slightly to heavily glaucous; leaves usually thickened or fleshy; staminode tip expanded |
>23 |
22 |
Foliage glabrous, puberulent, &/or glandular, but not glaucous; leaves not thickened; staminode tip expanded or not |
>29 |
23 |
Most of the inflorescence bracts prominent; inflorescence compact, not secund, the very short internodes, pedicels, and peduncles giving the effect of a spike of flowers |
>24 |
23 |
Only the lower inflorescence bracts prominent; inflorescences not spike-like, usually open, either n to distinctly secund or not; anthers completely dehiscent but not explanate, glabrous, sutures minutely spinescent |
>27 |
24 |
Bracts lance-ovate to orbicular, acute to short acuminate, large, conspecuous, often overlapping, clasping |
>25 |
24 |
Bracts lance-ovate or ovate, smaller, usually caudate; inflorescence congested; corolla sky-blue, violet-blue, or pinkish (often in same inflorescence); [these two subspecies of angustifolius may not be worthy of distinction since only flower color is different] |
>26 |
25 |
Plants tall (usually 5-10 dm); calyx lobes 7-13 mm long; flowers 35-48 mm long; inflorescence open; corolla pink, bluish lavender, or pale blue, abruptly inflated; sandy to loamy soils in prairies; at western edge of range neNM (UN), also scTX to neWY, ND & IN; about 5100 ft (in NM); Jun |
P grandiflous |
25 |
Plants usually < 5 dm tall; calyx lobes usually < 7 mm long; flowers 14-20 mm long; inflorescence congested; corolla pale lavender-blue; sandy soil in grasslands; eNM (CH, ED, LE, RO), TX, seCO, wKS; 3500-4500 ft; May-Jun |
P buckleyi |
26 |
Corollas pale blue to bluish-purple; prairies & hills in nNM (CO, MC, SJ, TA, UN), seCO, wKS, wOK (southern Great Plains); 4000-8500 ft; May-Jun |
P angustifolius caudatus |
26 |
Corollas lavender to pinkish; sandy soils in blackbrush, sagebrush, PJ in nwNM (SJ), seUT, neAZ (Colorado Plateau); 5000-5800 ft; May-Jun |
P angustifolius venosus |
27 |
Inflorescence not secund; bracts broadly ovate with a short, abruptly pointed tip; throat narrow and often somewhat curved, expanded only a the orifice, glabrous at base of lower lobes; prairies & lower mts in NM (CH, DA, DB, GR, GU, HA, HI, LE, LI, LU, MO, QU, SA, SI, SM, SO), swKS, wOK, wTX, seAZ, Chihuahua; about 4000-7000 ft; Apr-Jun |
P fendleri |
27 |
Inflorescence at least more-or-less secund, usually distinctly so; bracts lanceolate; throat gradually expanded, usually bearded at base of lower lobes; staminode bearded, tip dilated [the following not always easy to distinguish] |
>28 |
28 |
Calyx margins broadly scarious, often pinkish or purplish; inflorescence usually strongly secund; pedicels & peduncles usually short; rocky areas in wc, c, nc & neNM (BE, CA, CO, HA, LA, MC, SA, SF, SM, TA, UN), sCO, sWY; 5000-9500 ft; May-Jun |
P secundiflorus |
28 |
Calyx margins narrowly scarious, usually not colored; inflorescence more-or-less secund; peduncles & pedicels usually elongate; sandy or gravelly soils in sagebrush, PJ, oak, PIPO in nwNM (MC, SJ), seUT, swCO, neAZ; 4900-8500 ft; May-Jun; RARE |
P lentus lentus |
29 |
Inflorescence and corollas glandular pubescent externally |
>30 |
29 |
Inflorescence not glandular (glabrous or puberulous) |
>43 |
30 |
Fascicles of small, obscurely toothed leaves in axils of stem leaves; corolla abruptly ampliate ventricose, violet to purple color; anthers fully dehiscent but not explanate; staminode dilated distally, yellow bearded; rocky areas at middle elevations in swNM (HI) to scMEX |
P campanulatus chihuahensis |
30 |
No fasciculate leaves (fascicles of leaves occasionally present in P. dasyphyllus, but then leaves much longer & not toothed and staminode glabrous & not dilated) |
>31 |
31 |
Anther sacs explanate |
>32 |
31 |
Anther sacs not explanate |
>37 |
32 |
Corolla dull purple (rarely white), lower lobes projecting, 3-5 mm longer than upper lobes; subalpine to above timberline in NM (BE, CA, LI, MO, RA, SA, SF, SI, TA, TO, VA), AZ, CO, UT, WY, selD, swMT;8200-11,800 ft; Jun-Aug (Sep) |
P whippleanus |
32 |
Corolla white, pale lavender, violet-blue, blue-purple, lower lobes not projecting, not noticeably longer than upper lobes |
>33 |
33 |
Corolla not bearded at base of lower lobes; staminode sparsely to moderately bearded |
>34 |
33 |
Corolla bearded at base of lower lobes; staminode conspicuously bearded |
>35 |
34 |
Corolla 1-2 cm long, densely glandular pubescent within and without, white (rarely pale lavender); tube funnel form & moderately inflated; western Great Plains; NM (QU, UN) to TX & sCAN; about 5000 ft; May-Jun |
P albidus |
34 |
Corolla 3.6-6 cm long, pale colored, densely glandular pubescent without but glabrous within; tube abruptly inflated; prairies, pastures, hills; escaped in NM (QU, TA) & seCO, native range in NB, MO, AR, OK, eTX; 3800-7200 ft; Apr-Jun |
P cobaea |
35 |
Corolla 5-6 mm wide, orifice as high or higher than wide; lower lip not glandular within; staminode not or barely exserted; throat not to moderately inflated; shrub land, PJ in nwNM (MC, SJ), swCO, seUT; 5200-7600 ft; May-Jun |
P breviculus |
35 |
Corolla 8-19 mm wide, orifice much wider than high; lower lip glandular within; staminode usually prominently exserted; throat much inflated |
>36 |
36 |
Corolla 24-35 mm long, 10-15 mm wide; plains in NM (BE, CO, CU, DB, ED, GU, LI, MO, OT, QU, RO, SA, SF, SM, TO, UN), seCO, swKS, wTX; 4200-8000 ft; May-Jun |
P jamesii |
36 |
Corolla 14-22 mm long, 8-19 mm wide; wNM (CA, CI, MC, SI, SJ, VA), swCO, nAZ, sUT (Colorado Plateau); 4900-7400 ft; May-Aug |
P ophianthus |
37 |
Staminode glabrous, not dilated at tip; corolla markedly ampliate; anthers U-shaped, sutures spinescent; leaves occasionally in fascicles; gravelly slopes, desert grasslands in swNM (HI, LU), seAZ, Big Bend, ncMEX; 4500-5700 ft; Jun-Aug |
P dasyphyllus |
37 |
Staminode bearded; corolla narrow to expanded; anthers not U-shaped & not spinescent; leaves never in fascicles |
>38 |
38 |
Leaves finely toothed; corolla pale lavender to pale violet; corolla floor narrow, 2-ridged; base of lower lobes white hairy; plains in neNM (CO, SM, UN), seCO, to CAN, WI (eastern slope of Rockies); 7000-8700 ft; Jun-Aug |
P gracilis |
38 |
Leaves entire or undulate (occasionally denticulate in P. auriberbis); corollas darker in color; corolla floor ridged or not, base of lower lobes usually hairy |
>38 |
39 |
Corolla floor without ridges on under side; base of lower lobes villous; corolla 14-24 mm long, staminode slightly included to distinctly exserted, densely golden bearded for most its length, dilated at tip; bracts leaf-like and not much reduced; plains in neNM (CO, UN, barely enters NM) & seCO (common); 4500-7500 ft; May-Jun |
P auriberis |
39 |
Corolla floor deeply to moderately ridged on under side; base of lower lobes with a few white or many yellow hairs; staminode usually included, densely bearded for half its length; bracts always reduced and never leaf-like |
>40 |
40 |
Corolla floor deeply 2-ridged; base of lower lobes & floor of corolla and staminode densely covered with golden hairs; corolla 17-25 mm; flowers drooping to horizontal; rocky areas in forests & grasslands in neNM (RA, TA), seCO; 7000-10,000 ft |
P griffinii |
40 |
Corolla floor less strongly ridged, glabrous; base of lower lobes with a few white hairs; staminode orange-bearded; corolla 11-27 mm; flowers ascending to drooping [these three not always readily distinguishable] |
>41 |
41 |
Corolla fairly abruptly but moderately inflated, 17-27 mm long; flowers ascending to horizontal; plants robust (1-6 dm); basal rosette usually gone at anthesis; all but uppermost cauline leaves usually well-developed & similar to basal; hillsides & meadows in c & ncNM (BE, CO, SF, SM, TA, TO); 7500-11,000 ft; (May) Jun-Aug |
P inflatus |
41 |
Corolla straight or little inflated, 11-20 mm long; plants smaller (1-4 dm); basal rosette often present at anthesis; basal leaves best developed; cauline leaves usually smaller than basal |
>42 |
42 |
Stems obviously puberulent; flowers mostly ascending, never drooping; corollas not inflated; floor obscurely ridged; plants 1-3 dm tall; basal rosette persistent; subalpine meadows in San Mateo & Magdalena Mts (SO); 9500-10,100 ft; Jul-Aug (Oct); RARE |
P pseudoparvus |
42 |
Stems obscurely puberulent; flowers drooping to horizontal, never ascending; corollas little inflated; floor moderately ridged; plants 1.5-4 dm tall; basal rosette present or absent at anthesis; meadows & moist woods in wc & ncNM (CA, CI, MC, SA, SO) to ecAZ (White Mts); 8200-11,400 ft; Jun-Aug |
P oliganthus |
43 |
Inflorescence not at all secund; flowers 10-14 mm long, in dense fascicles usually separated by long intemodes; slopes, meadows, forests in nNM (CO, RA, SA, SJ, TA), nAZ, wCO, neUT, seWY; 7000-10,800 ft; Jul-Aug (Sep) |
P rydbergii |
43 |
Inflorescence at least somewhat secund, often distinctly so; flowers 15 40 mm long, not in dense fascicles, or if so, the fascicles not separated by long intemodes |
>44 |
44 |
Leaves large & broad, lance ovate or oblong; inflorescence usually broad and compact; corolla 30-40 mm long; stems usually densely leafy; plains & low mountains in neNM (CO, UN) & seCO; 5200-6700 ft; Jun-Aug |
P. glaber brandegei |
44 |
Leaves linear or lanceolate; inflorescence usually narrow and elongated; corolla 15-38 mm long |
>45 |
45 |
Anthers glabrous, not explanate; staminode hairy or glabrous |
>46 |
45 |
Anthers pubescent (sometimes very sparsely), not opening proximal 1/6 1/4, sutures spinescent; staminode glabrous to short bearded |
>49 |
46 |
Staminode with tuft of golden hairs at tip; corolla blue purple, violet purple, occasionally paler, 16-25 mm, base of lower lobes white bearded; sepals 4-9mm; NM (CA, CI), ecAZ (fairly common); 7500-11,280 ft; Jul-Sep; RARE |
P deaveri |
46 |
Staminode glabrous |
>47 |
47 |
Corolla 25-35 mm long, 10-17 mm wide, usually strongly white bearded at base of lower lobes; sepals 4-8 mm long; plants glabrous; MM (LI, OT) endemic to Capitan & Sacramento Mts, but not rare; 6000-9000 ft; Jul-Aug |
P neomexicanus |
47 |
Corolla 17-28 mm long, 7-10 mm wide, glabrous or lightly white bearded at base of lower lobes; sepals 2-4 mm long |
>48 |
48 |
Plants puberulous; mountain valleys & hillsides in nc, wc, swNM (BE, CA, CO, GR, LU, MC, RA, SA, SF, SI, M, TA, TO) & ncAZ; 7000-11,000 ft; Jul-Aug |
P virgatus virgatus |
48 |
Plants glabrous; uncommon in ncNM (CO) but abundant in Front Range, CO; 5500-9500 ft; Jul |
P virgatus asa-grayi |
49 |
Inflorescence usually broader, cymes often much-branched, peduncles & pedicels elongate & divaricate; pollen sac sides villous or lanate, hairs to 2.5 mm; cauline leaf blades oblanceolate to linear; corolla pale blue to lavender, 25-38 mm long; sagebrush, PJ, oak, PIPO in nwNM (SJ), swCO, UT, neAZ, NV; 5200-9000 ft; Jun-Aug |
P comarrhenus |
49 |
Pollen sac sides villous or lanate, hairs to 1.8 mm; cauline leaf blades lanceolate or linear; corollas blue, lavender, violet, or purple |
>50 |
50 |
Anthers with flexuous hairs to 1 mm (less than length of sac); staminode short bearded on distal half; calyx 5-9 mm long, segments usually lanceolate, acuminate or caudate, lower margins scarious, erase; corolla lavender to blue, without nectar guides, 19-32 mm long; nwNM (RA, SJ), seUT, swCO,neAZ; 5500-9200 ft; Jun-Aug |
P strictiformis |
50 |
Anthers moderately to densely lanate to villous, hairs to 1.8 mm (greater than or equaling the length of the sac); anthers less densely pubescent than P. comarrhenus; staminode glabrous or with a few hairs at the tip; calyx 3-5 mm long, segments usually ovate, rounded; corolla purple to violet or blue, with violet nectar guides, 18-32 mm long; plains, meadows, wooded slopes in sagebrush, oak, PJ, PIPO & fir in NM (BE, CA, CI, CO, MC, RA, SA, SJ, TA, TO), neAZ, CO, UT, WY; 7200-10,500 ft; Jun-Aug |
P strictus |