Biology:Mertensia longiflora

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Short description: Plant species in the borage family

Mertensia longiflora
Mertensia longiflora near Cashmere, Chelan County Washington
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Mertensia
Species:
M. longiflora
Binomial name
Mertensia longiflora
Greene
Synonyms[1]
  • Mertensia horneri
  • Mertensia pulchella
Mertensia longiflora on Badger Mountain, Douglas County Washington

Mertensia longiflora is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names small bluebells and long bluebells.

Description

It is a perennial herb growing from branched and tuberous roots[2] in the form of a caudex. The erect stem averages about 18 centimetres (7 1⁄8 in) in height.[2] There are a few oval to lance-shaped leaves.

The inflorescence is a dense, often crowded cluster of hanging tubular flowers which are fused at the base and expand into lobed and bell-like mouths.[2] They are generally bright blue, but may be lavender to pinkish to nearly white, and measure up to 2.5 cm long.

Taxonomy

Mertensia longiflora was scientifically described and named by Edward Lee Greene in 1898. It is classified in the genus Mertensia within the Boraginaceae family. The species has no accepted varieties, but has two among its six heterotypic synonyms.[1]

Table of Synonyms
Name Year Rank
Mertensia horneri Piper 1906 species
Mertensia longiflora f. alba B.Boivin 1966 form
Mertensia longiflora var. horneri (Piper) J.F.Macbr. 1916 variety
Mertensia longiflora var. pulchella (Piper) J.F.Macbr. 1916 variety
Mertensia pulchella Piper 1906 species
Mertensia pulchella subsp. glauca Piper 1906 subspecies

Range

Long bluebells are native to western Canada and the western United States. In Canada it grows in Alberta and British Columbia. In the US it grows in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, and Nevada.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 POWO (2026). "Mertensia longiflora Greene" (in en). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/118614-1. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Taylor, Ronald J. (1994) (in en). Sagebrush Country: A Wildflower Sanctuary (rev. ed.). Missoula, MT: Mountain Press Pub. Co. pp. 22. ISBN 0-87842-280-3. OCLC 25708726. 

Wikidata ☰ Q6820658 entry