Photo: Leslie Bigos
Mertensia longiflora sagebrush (small) bluebells
Family ID traits:
- Inner throat of tubular corolla marked by fornices (protruding structure )
- Flower structure often coiled like a scorpion tail.
- Entire plant may be hairy, prickly, or sticky overall.
- Fruit – 4 nutlets around base of style.
Habitat: common in shrub-steppe, often under a shrub canopy. Early spring bloomer
flowers: in tight
clusters, hang
downward. Petals
fused into a tube.
Color: blue fades
to pink with age.
stems: fleshy, support drooping flower clusters
Leaves: leathery with a bluish cast