Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Prairie Bluebells
Mertensia lanceolata
Borage family (Boraginaceae)

Lanceleaf Bluebells (Mertensia lanceolata) is, in William Weber's words, "a quite variable and complex species separable into and lowland, and , broad- and narrow-leaved races, all evidently merging and recombining in puzzling ways." Several other species (M. fusiformis, M. brevistylus, M. oblongifolia) can easily be confused with M. lanceolata. Various experts give conflicting descriptions of all these species. Perhaps some day all this will be sorted out. For now, enjoy the plants, whatever their names are.

"Lanceolata" refers to the leaf shape. Frederic Pursh named this plant in 1814. The was named in 1797 for F. K. Mertens, a German botanist.


© Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org

Description

Stems 1 to many, to 16 inches tall, erect or leaning, hairy to . Leaves at base to 6" long, over 1" wide, to , or with longer than the leaf ; stem leaves slightly reduced upward, mostly . often with many flowers. tube 1/8-1/4" long with ring of dense hairs near base, the of the flower from 1/8-1/3" broad. well from the floral tube. or not. 1/10" long, wrinkled.

Field Marks

Single to small groupings of 10" plants with hanging blue bell flowers.

© Al Schneider

style -- This is a long and thread-like structure that connects the stigma with the ovary. A flower may have a single style, or several of them.

pubescent -- downy; covered with short, soft, erect hairs.

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

An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem.

a small nut. A nut being a hard, dry fruit containing only one seed that does not open at maturity.

sessile -- attached without a stalk. For example, a leaf that clasps the stalk. A petiolate leaf has a stalk.

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

petiole -- the stalk of a leaf.

limb -- the expanded end of a tublar corolla.

canescent -- a white coating often due to fine grayish-white hairs.

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.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

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

alpine -- above the tree line. Thin soil, rocks, short growing season, frost, winter snow.