Kingdom Plantae Family Boraginaceae Scientific name Mertensia longiflora | Order (unplaced) Genus Mertensia Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Mertensia oblongifolia, Mertensia bella, Mertensia ciliata, Mertensia paniculata, Lithospermum ruderale | ||
Mertensia longiflora is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names small bluebells and long bluebells.
Contents
Distribution
It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California to Montana, where it grows in several types of habitat.
Description
It is a perennial herb producing an erect stem from a branching caudex, approaching 40 centimeters in maximum height. There are a few oval to lance-shaped leaves.
The inflorescence is a dense, often crowded cluster of hanging tubular flowers with expanded, bell-like mouths. They are generally bright blue, but may be lavender to pinkish to nearly white, and measure up to 2.5 centimeters long.
References
Mertensia longiflora Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA