Scientific Family
Boraginaceae
Other common names
purple gromwell
manyflowered gromwell
purple pucoon
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1 to 2 feet
Riparian
No
Basal leaves reduced to scales; leaves grow all along stem and are longest towards the middle of the stem; prominent mid-vein; stems topped with curving elongated clusters of deep yellow or orange flowers.
Perennial; thick woody roots; several branched stems; basal leaves die before flowering; upper leaves reduced to bracts near the flowers; deep yellow or orange flowers with smooth lobes.
Habitat
Gravelly and litter covered soils, in sagebrush flats, pinyon-juniper woodlands, pine woodlands and forests, and aspen communities.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
5400
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
Short-stemmed clusters at stem tip, flowers trumpet-shaped, 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, hairy on the outside with 5 small spreading, rounded, petal-like lobes; green sepals.
Flower color
Deep yellow, orange
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
September
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Basal leaves die before flowering; stem leaves alternate; blades narrow to lance-shaped, 3/4 to 2-1/2 inches long, to 5/8 inch wide, upper surface with flat-lying hairs, lower surface and margins with spreading hairs.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Shiny; 1/8 inch long; often only 1 per flower matures.
Fruit type
Nutlet
Fruit color
White