Compilation
Heuchera rubescens

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Name

Identification
Isotype of Heuchera rubescens Torrey [family SAXIFRAGACEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Rosendahl, Carl Otto, 1933
Related name
  • Heuchera leptomeria
  • Heuchera rubescens
  • Heuchera lithophila
  • Heuchera hirsutissima
  • Heuchera cuneata
  • Heuchera parishii
  • Heuchera pringlei
  • Heuchera versicolor
Common name
  • Pink alum-root, Flora of North America Vol. 8

Flora

Entry for Heuchera rubescens Torrey [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 8,
Names
Heuchera rubescens Torrey [family SAXIFRAGACEAE], in H. Stansbury, Exped. Great Salt Lake, 388, plate 5. 1852 ,
Heuchera leptomeria Greene [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera leptomeria var. peninsularis Rosendahl, Butters & Lakela [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera pringlei Rydberg [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. alpicola Jepson [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. glandulosa Kellogg [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. oregonensis Wheelock [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. pachypoda (Greene) Rosendahl, Butters & Lakela [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. rydbergiana Rosendahl, Butters & Lakela [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. truncata Rosendahl, Butters & Lakela [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera rubescens var. versicolor (Greene) M. G. Stewart [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera versicolor Greene [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Heuchera versicolor var. leptomeria (Greene) Kearney & Peebles [family SAXIFRAGACEAE]
Treatment Author(s)
Elizabeth Fortson Wells
Barbara Greene Shipes
Information
Herbs acaulescent or subcaulescent; caudex branched. Flowering stems (6–)10–32(–50) cm, short stipitate-glandular. Leaves: 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. Inflorescences dense, diffuse in fruit, (often secund). Flowers: 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. Capsules urceolate, 3–6 mm; beaks divergent, papillose or not. Seeds dark brown, fusiform, 0.5–0.9 mm. 2n = 14, 28.
Phenology
Flowering Apr–Sep
Altitude range
900–3700 m
Distribution
Mexico (Baja California).USA Ariz.USA Calif.USA Colo.USA IdahoUSA Nev.USA N.Mex.USA Oreg.USA TexasUSA Utah
Discussion
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).

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