Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Fendler's Waterleaf
Hydrophyllum fendleri
Waterleaf family (Hydrophyllaceae)

Protruding, pin-cushion-like are characteristic of this family. But even this distinction is not enough to attract attention to Fendler's Waterleaf which usually goes unnoticed, because it is most often buried in a mass of greenery in moist Aspen woods. It is, however, very common and easy to find. The plant tends to be broader than tall with flowers protruding just above the large, arching leaves. Linnaeus named this in 1753. Augustus Fendler (1813-1883) was a respected 19th century collector of plants. Fendler collected this plant in 1846-47 in the mountains above Santa Fe.


©2016 Susan McDougall, Trees Live Here.

Description

plants from . Plants to 3' tall, usually 2'. Leaf to over 10" long, with 9-13 divisions which are coarsely or . 1-5" long. and otherwise hairy. from 1/4 to 2/5" long white to violet, about 1/2 length of . well , blue pollen. a .

Field Marks

Deeply cut wide leaves are topped by white to violet flowers in showy clusters.

© Al Schneider

stamen -- the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower; The stamen consists of an anther supported by a filament.

A peduncle is a common stalk of a cluster of flowers.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

lobe -- A rounded parts of a leaf (or other organ).

corolla -- The name for all the petals of a flower taken together.

serrate -- toothed with asymmetrical teeth pointing forward; like the cutting edge of a saw.

capsule -- a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. In most cases the capsule splits apart to release seeds.

ciliate -- fringed with hairs

calyx -- the sepals of a flower, typically forming a whorl that encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around a flower in bud.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

pinnate -- A compound leaf with two rows of leaflets.

The anther is a pad at the end of the stamen that holds the pollen.

Cut deeply and (usually) unevenly (a condition intermediate between toothed and lobed).

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

blade -- Just the flat part of a leaf. Not the stem.

exserted -- projected beyond. (Exserted stamens project beyond the corolla tube.)

rhizome -- root-like stems that may either grow horizontally at the soil surface or in other orientations underground.