WILDFLOWERS OF NEW MEXICO

Often in dense clumps of leafy, 8–18-inch tall stems, spikes of golden flowers of this plant stand out along stream banks, mountain slopes, grasslands, and desert scrub. Note the tubular flowers have a rounded spur. The species name aurea means gold.

FLOWERS: May–August. Short stems with spike-like clusters (racemes) of 10–20 yellow, irregular, tubular flowers, 1/2–5/8-inch long (13–15 mm); 4 petals, outer 2 with spreading lips and joined to form a rounded rear spur, inner 2 joined to form hood over stigma; fruit a slender pod-like capsule 1/2–3/4-inch long (12–20 mm).

LEAVES: Alternate. Blade compound, leaflets deeply cut into numerous narrow, pointed lobes; surfaces hairless.

HABITAT: Sandy, gravelly soils, roadsides, moist areas; desert scrub, prairies, pinyon-juniper, ponderosa, mixed conifer-aspen forests.

ELEVATION: 3,500-11,100 feet.

RANGE: West of Mississippi River, north of Ohio River.

SIMILAR SPECIES: Bright yellow, tubular flowers with a spur and the smooth, deeply lobed leaves distinguish this plant in NM. Two subspecies in NM: subsp. aurea has flower stalks within the leaves, a spur 1/2 the length of the rest of the flower, spreading capsules, and occurs 6,500–10,750 feet; subsp. occidentalis has flower stalks that extend beyond the leaves, a spur equal to the rest of the flower, erect capsules, and occurs 4,300–8,300 feet.

NM COUNTIES: Statewide except Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe counties.