Collinsia

Nutt.

Blue-eyed Marys, Chinese houses

Collinsia is a of approximately 20 of herbaceous flowering plants in the Plantaginaceae. The genus includes two informal groups: the -eyed Marys and the Chinese houses. Species are to North America, with particularly high diversity in California. The genus was historically classified in Scrophulariaceae but reassigned to Plantaginaceae based on molecular genetic research. Collinsia species are winter annuals that germinate with winter rains and complete their within a single growing season.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Collinsia: /kɔˈlɪn.si.ə/

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Habitat

Closed-cone coniferous forests, northern coastal scrub, and sometimes serpentine soils; also found in dry-mesic upland deciduous forests, riparian corridors, and moist woodland . Collinsia verna has been observed in mesic riparian oak/hickory forest.

Distribution

to North America; highest in California with many restricted to that state. Collinsia violacea ranges across broader areas including Oklahoma. show geographic structuring with clinal variation in floral correlated with geography and ploidy level.

Seasonality

Winter : seeds germinate with winter rains; vegetative growth in late winter; flowering from late February/early March through May. Collinsia verna blooms as a spring ephemeral.

Diet

Autotrophic; photosynthetic herb.

Life Cycle

herbaceous wildflower; seeds germinate with winter rains; vegetative growth followed by flowering from late February/early March through end of May; reproduces and completes within single growing season. Reproduces via autonomous self- (autonomous selfing) in at least some .

Behavior

Rapid phenotypic plasticity in response to drought conditions observed in Collinsia multicolor, including plasticity in flowering time, stomatal , and chlorophyll fluorescence. Some show evolutionary responses in stomatal density in variable environments.

Ecological Role

Spring ephemeral wildflower contributing to early-season floral resources; Collinsia heterophylla (purple Chinese houses) documented as a nectar source for including orchard (Osmia lignaria) and .

Human Relevance

Collinsia parviflora (smallflower eyed Mary) and Collinsia violacea (violet blue eyed Mary) had documented medicinal uses among Indian peoples. Named in honor of Zacchaeus Collins, a Philadelphia botanist of the late 18th/early 19th century.

More Details

Taxonomic History

Traditionally placed in Scrophulariaceae (snapdragon ), but reassigned to Plantaginaceae following molecular genetic research. The is now classified in Chelonoideae, tribe Cheloneae.

Ploidy Variation

Collinsia parviflora vary in ploidy level ( and tetraploid), with tetraploids exhibiting larger flowers and different floral proportions than diploids. Collinsia grandiflora is consistently diploid with less morphological variation. When large- and small-flowered forms co-occur, they are typically diploid and tetraploid respectively, suggesting morphological differentiation from selection for reproductive isolation between co-occurring plants of different ploidy.

Climate Change Responses

Herbarium records of Collinsia violacea (1895–2014) show complex phenological responses to climate variables. Multiple regression analyses indicate that increases in latitude, longitude, and mean monthly temperature are associated with delayed first and peak flowering, while increases in monthly and maximum temperatures are associated with earlier first flowering. Collinsia multicolor shows rapid evolutionary and plastic responses to drought, with coastal showing greater plasticity than pre-adapted drier inland populations.