13. Frasera albicaulis Grisebach in W. J. Hooker, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 67, plate 154. 1837.
[E F]
White-stemmed frasera
Leucocraspedum albicaule (Grisebach) Rydberg; Swertia albicaulis (Grisebach) D. Douglas ex Kuntze
Herbs perennial, 1–6.5 dm. Stems 1–few, with several rosettes. Leaf blades narrowly white-margined; basal oblanceolate, 4–23 × 0.3–1.2(–2) cm, basal leaves generally longer than lowest internode; cauline leaves opposite, proximal blades oblanceolate to oblong, distal linear-oblong. Inflorescences narrow, 1.5–4(–5) cm wide, interrupted proximally, ± continuous distally. Flowers: calyx 3–7(–12) mm; corolla greenish white to pale or medium blue, usually dark blue- to purple-dotted and/or with a dark blue, purple, or green central stripe (except in var. idahoensis), 6–12 mm, lobes oblong-obovate-elliptic, widest near midlength, abruptly tapering to acute to short-acuminate apex; androecial corona scales present, variable among the varieties; style slender, distinct; nectaries and foveae 1 per corolla lobe, foveae distal to nectary, opening into an elliptic-oblong to lance-ovate differentiated area on the corolla surface, rim fringed all around but with fringes shorter distally, or not fringed toward distal end.
Varieties 5 (5 in the flora): w United States.
Frasera albicaulis varies in vegetative and abaxial corolla puberulence and in the size and dissection of the androecial corona. It has sometimes been divided into several species and additional varieties, but, from the material available for study at the time of this writing, it appears appropriate to recognize only five varieties, although F. ackermaniae might be considered for inclusion at varietal rank. Each of these varieties has a more or less distinct geographic range, but some intergrade.
