Western Stoneseed
Lithospermum ruderale
Borage family (Boraginaceae)

"Lithospermum" is from the Latin meaning "stone seed," and refers to the plant's hard, shiny seeds that have been used as beads. This species is also known as "Puccoon," a Native American word for plants that yield a purple dye that can be extracted from its roots. Western Gromwell has been used for centuries as a female contraceptive. Yellow Gromwell (L. incisum), occurring at lower elevations than Western Gromwell, has larger, trumpet-shaped, bright yellow flowers with fringed petals. Many-flowered Puccoon (Lithospermum multiflorum grows at the same and higher altitudes, has a more open growth pattern of multi-stems, and has numerous, larger, bright yellow flowers.

Description

Stiff stemmed, bushy perennial herb, 10-20" tall, with multiple unbranched hairy stems. Small, obscure, pale yellow flowers arranged in clusters tucked deeply into the axils of upper leaves. Flowers comprised of a small tube of fused petals spreading into 5 lobes. Leaves are alternate, dark green, lanceolate to linear, hairy, stalkless, becoming more numerous toward the top of the plant. Fruits are shiny, egg-shaped white-brown nutlets.

Field Marks

Stiff, bushy plant with clusters of yellow tube flowers.

© Al Schneider