About Scutellaria bolanderi A.Gray
Scutellaria bolanderi A.Gray is a perennial herb that grows an erect stem, or a cluster of erect stems, 30 to 100 cm (12 to 39 inches) tall from a network of slender rhizomes. Stems are covered in 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 inch) long spreading hairs, which are generally tipped with glands. The oval or heart-shaped leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem, and have wavy edges. The lowest leaves grow on short petioles 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 inch) long. Flowers grow from the leaf axils, and each flower is held in a calyx made of sepals that has a large ridge or appendage on its upper section. The corolla is 13–19 mm (0.51–0.75 inch) long, is tubular in shape, and has a distinct large upper lip and large lower lip. The upper lip folds into a beak-like protrusion, while the lower lip has three wide lobes. The corolla is white or very pale blue, with blue mottling on the lower lip. This species typically flowers from June to July. This plant is endemic to California. It occurs in the Sierra Nevada, parts of the Coast Ranges, some of Southern California's mountains, and parts of the Mojave Desert. Carl Epling noted that while this species has a broad range across the state, it grows only in highly localized populations. It is most commonly found in wet meadows and along stream margins in montane habitats, typically within pine or oak woodland. The subspecies Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. austromontana occurs at elevations of 600 to 2,000 m (2,000 to 6,600 ft), while the nominal subspecies Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi occurs at elevations of 100 to 1,500 m (330 to 4,920 ft).
