Roundleaf Alumroot, Lava Alumroot: Heuchera cylindrica var. cylindrica (Synonyms: Heuchera cylindrica var. suksdorfii, Heuchera saxicola, Heuchera suksdorfii)

Roundleaf or lava alumroot is an attractive perennial with erect or ascending stems from 15-90 cm in height arising from a cluster of basal leaves atop a thick, horizontal rhizome or rootstock with old leaf-bases. The herbage may be smooth to glandular hairy below and usually thickly glandular hairy above. The stems lack leaves or may have several small bracts. The leaf blades are broadly ovate to oval, or they may be kidney- to heart-shaped. The blades are 1-6 cm wide and vary from shorter than the width to longer. The base of the blade is heart-shaped or may abruptly narrow to the petiole. The margins are 5-7 lobed with coarse teeth on each lobe. The petioles are 3-10 cm long and may be smooth or hairy depending on the variety.

The inflorescence is a panicle or elongated cluster of flowers. The inflorescence varies from smooth surfaced to hairy and very glandular (The plants in the photos on this page were very sticky as evidenced by the debris visible on them.). The yellow-green calyx is narrowly bell-shaped and 6-8 mm long with pale yellow, obtuse to rounded lobes. The lobes are shorter than the length of the tube. The petals are either lacking or are much shorter than the calyx-lobes. If present, they are linear in shape. The stamens are shorter than the calyx lobes.

var. alpina: Leaf blades thick and under 2.5 cm wide (slightly longer). The base of the blade varies from rounded to heart-shaped (See photo at lower right.). Lower stems and blades finely glandular hairy.

var. glabella: Leaf blades thinner and over 2.5 cm wide. The base of the blade is definitely heart-shaped. Lower stems , leaves, and petioles often smooth surfaced or sparsely glandular hairy.

Var. cylindrica: Leaf blades thinner and over 2.5 cm wide. The base of the blade is definitely heart-shaped. Lower stems and petioles and petioles glandular hairy to coarsely and stiffly haired.

Roundleaf alumroot may be found from British Columbia south on the eastern side of the Cascades to central Oregon and northeastern California. To the east it may be found to Alberta, and south in the Rockies to Montana, northwestern Wyoming and northern Nevada.

Variety cylindrica may be found from British Columbia south into the northern and central Cascades of Washington and east to Montana and western Wyoming. It may be found over much of eastern Washington and Oregon.

Close-ups of the flowers, basal leaf and stem of roundleaf alumroot as seen on rocky forest slopes along the Little Spokane River in the Little Spokane River Natural Area..........May 23, 2010. Note the lack of petals between the cream-colored calyx lobes of the flowers and the numerous spreading hairs of different lengths on the stem.

Roundleaf alumroot (var. cylindrica) as seen (left) from the north side of the crest of the ridgeline due north of Camas Land meadows, Camas Lands NAP, southeast of Leavenworth, Washington.........June 5, 2015. The photo at right shows a close-up of the inflorescence of roundleaf alumroot (var. cylindrica) as seen on granitic outcrops along the Knothead Valley Trail in the Little Spokane River Natural Area.......May 9, 2016.