Scientific Family
Boraginaceae
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Perennial
Similar species
Mertensia franciscana, M. macdougalli, Myosotis scorpioides,
Height
4 to 12 inches
Riparian
No
Stems light green or reddish in color, not very rigid, when in full bloom flowers tend to hang down; producing elongated clusters of hanging, tubular flowers, white or pale pink at base, blue at tips (pink or purple when in bud). Known only from Arizona.
Plants lacking hairs; leaf blades to 2-3/4 inches long, alternate, stalked on lower stems, not stalked upper stems; sepals separate to nearly their base; flowers primarily blue, often paired, petals fused except for small lobes at their tips.
Habitat
Pine forests, woodlands, canyon sides.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Low elevation
6000
High elevation
9000
Flower Characteristics
Numerous flowers in clusters; sepals 5-lobed, divided nearly to base; petals narrow, smooth, rounded at tips; united into a tube 2x length of sepals; ovary 4-lobed, separating into 4 nutlets; long white stamen projects beyond petal tips.
Flower color
Blue, white, pale pink, purple
Flower shape
Bell-shaped
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems light green or reddish, not rigid; leaves basal, alternate on stems, hairless, ovate (round at base, pointed at tip), 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long, 1 inch wide, margins smooth; basal and lower blades short-stalked, upper leaves stalkless.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Light grayish-green, reddish
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
4 nutlets with a distinct, reflexed margin (bent sharply backwards).
Fruit type
Nutlet