Wildflowers, Blue-Purple Pg1

Short's Milkvetch (Astragalus shortianus), family Fabaceae (Pea). Lovely, a stunning plant. More photos here. Short's Milkvetch is one of 419 species in the genus Astragalus, per the USDA plant database website. WIKIPEDIA puts the nubmer at closer to 2,000! Some species are toxic in varying amounts but a study of this member has not been done specifically.
There are four varieties of this species: *Astragalus shortianus var. brachylobus *Astragalus shortianus var. cyaneus *Astragalus shortianus var. minor *Astragalus shortianus var. typicus
Plant location: Seen on a hike in West Pawnee Butte Colorado on June 3, 2009. This very lovely specimen is found only in these United States: CO, NE, NM, WY. More photos here. Bloom period: April through June. More photos here.
Crescent Milkvetch (Astragalus amphioxys), family Fabaceae (Pea). What a plain old flat out thrill this was sighting was!! The plant was our very first wildflower find of the 2009 early spring season. This plant is lovely and delicate looking, but as with many in the plant kingdom, in actual fact it is a tough specimen. These blooms occur in an almost desert environment where the challenges of life are rigorous. But thrive they do anyway. In contrast also to the environment in which they live, a light stroking of the the foliage of this plant will delight. It is velvety smooth to the touch, very pleasing. The genus Astragalus is quite large (about 2000 species) with any number of the species identified by seed pods rather than flowers. There are 4 subspecies of amphioxys, which of these our specimen is, is not clear. See more photographs here.
USES: The only recorded use of the species is from the website Native American Ethnobotany: 'Zuni Drug (Snake Bite Remedy) Fresh or dried root chewed by medicine man before sucking snakebite and poultice applied to wound.'
Per WIKIPEDIA: Astragalus consists of herbs and small shrubs, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. The genus is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Common names include milk-vetch (most species), locoweed (in western US, some species)[1] and goat's-thorn (A. gummifer, A. tragacanthus). Some pale-flowered vetches are similar in appearance, but vetches are more vine-like. See an example of Crown Vetch here.
Plant location: The incredible Arches National Park, near Moab Utah, was the location of this specimen was sighted on March 13, 2009. The plants are native to temperate North America. Recordings of these plants in Utah have established them in elevations from 1969 feet up to 5906. Our specimen was above 5000 feet. Habitats are sandy or gravelly soil in deserts, arid grasslands, and among piñon and juniper. We saw many junipers in berries slightly higer up. The plants are found in only 5 of the United States total - AZ , CO , NV , NM , TX , UT.

Bloom period: Obviously these guys start blooming quite early to our distinct pleasure. Their bloom average is March through June. It is an annual herb.
Ballhead Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum), family Hydrophyllaceae. From WIKIPEDIA is this on the classification: 'Hydrophylloideae is a subfamily of the Boraginaceae family of flowering plants. Their taxonomic position is somewhat uncertain. Traditionally, and under the Cronquist system, they were given family rank under the name Hydrophyllaceae, and treated as part of the order Solanales. More recent systems have recognised their close relationship to the borage family, Boraginaceae, initially by placing Hydrophyllaceae and Boraginaceae together in an order Boraginales, and most recently by demoting Hydrophyllaceae to a subfamily of Boraginaceae. However the placement and circumscription of Boraginaceae is still uncertain: it is unplaced at order level, and there is some prospect of it being split up again in future.' End quote.
USES: This information is from the site Plant-life.org ' Edible Uses: Young waterleaf shoots and leaves, collected before the flowers appeared, were used by native peoples and settlers as a cooked vegetable. They are best boiled in 1-2 changes of water and served with vinegar. Some tribes boiled or steamed the large and fleshy roots of ballhead waterleaf with the bulbs of yellow glacier lily.' These plants produce fruit but it is not very workable. Small with 2-3 seeds.
Plant location: We saw this specimen hiking Esmerelda Basin (near Cle Elum Washington) in June of 2007. Bloom season is from April to June.
Chinese Lantern (Quincula lobata), family Solanaceae (Nightshade/Potato). This perennial herb is classed by William Weber as the only member in the genus Quincula. THANK YOU TO DR. MARY DUBLER for this identification!! It is also known to be placed in the genus Physalis. The blooms can be white, blue, or purple, most often purple. The plants share good company, as memebers of the family include many valuable food sources such as the potato, eggplant, tomatos, and peppers. The family also, however, includes a fair number of toxic members as well. Per WIKIPEDIA is this: 'Solanaceae species are often rich in alkaloids whose toxicity to humans and animals ranges from mildly irritating to fatal in small quantities.' End quote. The plant is said to be easily confused with members of Physalis and Solanum. Any experimentation with the plant for food should be tested carefully for adverse reactions.
USES: This species is recorded in Native American Ethnobotany as having these interesting uses by Native Americans: 'Kiowa Drug (Misc. Disease Remedy) Decoction of roots taken or poultice of pounded roots applied for grippe. - Kiowa Food (Preserves) Berries gathered to make jelly. - Kiowa Other (Toys & Games) Bladdery envelope blown up by children and busted on the forehead.'

Plant location: Adams County Open Space, September 11, 2008. The plants grow in the following United State: AZ, CA, CO, KS, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT. Habitats are for example forest openings, fields (as was this example) and hillsides.

Bloom period: A generous amount of time is available to see these blooms - March through October.
Shrubby or Bush Penstemon, (Penstemon fruticosus var. fruticosus), was family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), re-classed to family Plantaginaceae (Plantain). See WIKIPEDIA for a detailed account of the changes. Plants found from southern British Columbia south to the east of the Cascades in central Washington to the Columbia River Gorge and east across central Idaho to Montana, and Wyoming. Get an excellent book, NORTHWEST PENSTEMONS (see a review in our bibliography here), for more information. You will learn that there are 272 species of Penstemons that are native to North America and that there are approximately 80 species at home in the Pacific Northwest. This is the largest genus of flowering plants endemic to North America We have seen many species of Penstemons. Some even look a bit like exotic orchids.
USES: According to Wikipedia, Native Americans used Penstemons for treating toothaches. The website Native American Ethnobotany details many more uses, amoung them: cures of a love medicine by the Iroquois; Infusion of plant tops used for sore and itchy scalp and to bathe the skin for acne and pimples by the Okanagan-Colville tribes; Decoction of leaves used as an eyewash for sore, red eyes by Thompsons tribes. For a complete list enter Penstmon fruticosus here and press your enter key.
A look at WIKIPEDIA'S Penstemons is worthwhile also. They have many pictures of various species of Penstemons as well as an extensive listing of species by scientific names. A great source of additional photographs of this species is at CalPhotos. Plant location: This was growing in the Cle Elum Washington area. June 9, 2007 Bloom season: This species shows itself off from May through August.
Double Lilac (Syringa vulgaris), family Oleaceae (Olive). While technically not a wildflower per se, this uncommon sighting of Lilac in Washington state deserves mention here. The plant was to all appearances growing 'wild' at the location where we found it. It could have been introduced by a well meaning ornamental plant lover to grace this trail already teaming with flowers! The plant looked healthy and thriving and was in fact very near the trailhead proper (which increases our idea that it may have been introduced by human intervention). This perennial shrub is one of 16 species in the genus Syringa with 14 genera in the family. The plant was originally introduced from the Balkan Peninsula (southeastern europe). 'In the American colonies lilacs were introduced in the eighteenth century. Peter Collinson, F.R.S., wrote to the Pennsylvania gardener and botanist John Bartram, proposing to send him some, and remarked that John Custis of Virginia had a fine "collection", which Ann Leighton interpreted as signifying Common and Persian Lilacs, in both purple and white, "the entire range of lilacs possible" at the time.'
USES: The website Native American Ethnobotany has these records of uses of Syringa vulgaris by Native Americans: 'Iroquois Drug (Pediatric Aid) Bark or leaves chewed by children for sore mouths. Bark or leaves chewed for sore mouth caused by kissing a girl with menses. Bark or leaves chewed for sore mouth caused by smoking someone else's pipe.'
The double blossom is especially beautiful, the stamens in such specimens have been replaced by extra petals. Indeed there are none showing in our specimen. We obviously caught our example early in it's season and were lucky to have seen even that single lovely flower. The common lilac is known to bloom heavily ONLY every other year. Manipulation of the plant (cutting of stems and/or blossoms) at specific times in the plant's season can effectively change the flowering performance of the plant, a common practice with cultivated plants. Plant location: Hiking Ingalls Creek, Washington state!! on May 19, 2007. Our plant view is not especially good. We were not taking technical photographs at that time. We would love to return to Washington state and do this hike again at peak wildflower season. The trail was fantastic for blooms. In the US and Canada WIKIPEDIA has the following locations for this plant: USA (AR, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV), CAN (BC, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK). BUT our sighting proves out that Washington state also supports Lilac. Lilac is the state flower of the state of New Hampshire. Bloom season: Unknown.
Creeping Charlie -or- Gill-over-the-ground (Glecoma hederacea), family Lamiaceae (Mint). Per WIKIPEDIA: 'Lamiaceae or Labiatae, also known as the Mint family, is a family of plants in about 210 genera and some 3,500 species. The plants are frequently aromatic in all parts and include many widely used culinary herbs, such as basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, thyme, lavender, and perilla. Some are shrubs, but rarely trees or vines. Many members of the family are widely cultivated, owing not only to their aromatic qualities but also their ease of cultivation: these plants are among the easiest plants to propagate by stem cuttings. Besides those grown for their edible leaves, some are grown for decorative foliage, such as coleus and snow-on-the-mountain. Others are grown for food purposes, but seeds are utilized instead of leaves, such as with chia.' End quote. This beautiful little plant often is one of the first blooming in the spring and was first only a cultivar. But it escaped it's controlling boundaries is now common in the wild.
More photographs of Glecoma hederacea are at Turner Photographics. Turner Photographics is the website of author Mark Turner. See our review of his book Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest co-authored with Phyllis Gustafson.
Plant location: Seen in Maple Valley, Washington in mid June 2007. Bloom period: March through June.
Wild Bergamot -or- Beebalm -or- Horsemint (Monarda fistulosa), family Lamiaceae (Mint). One word - SHOWY! These distinctive and beautiful flowers caught our eye on a slope not too far from a little stream in a Colorado Open Space. The species is native to North America and has become popular as a cultivated plant. It holds a strong attraction for the pollinators bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and so is a wonderful choice for the gardens of those who wish to draw these creatures to their gardens. The long bloom period doesn't hurt either. There are only about 16 species in the Monarda genus. In flavor, the plants from this genus are described as having a flavor close to oregano when used as a seasoning with cooked foods. It is considered a good companion plant to grow with tomatoes, allegedly improving both the health and flavor of them. In all species, the leaves, when crushed, exude a spicy, highly fragrant oil. Of the species listed, M. didyma (Oswego Tea) contains the highest concentration of this oil. This is per WIKIPEDIA. Also they say that the genus was named for Nicolás Monardes who wrote a book in 1574 describing plants found in the New World. More photographs of Wild Bergamot here.
USES: The plants are not only lovely to look at but offer a long and current history of medical and nutritional uses. The USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center website has an excellent paper on this species. From it is this: 'The Tewa Indians because of the flavor it imparted cooked Wild bergamot with meat. The Iroquois used the plant in the making of a beverage. The plant has a wide variety of medicinal uses. The Ojibwe put a wad of chewed leaves of this plant into their nostrils to relieve headache. The tops of the plant were dried and used as a sternutatory for the relief of colds. The leaves were placed in warm water baths for babies. The Flambeau Ojibwe gathered and dried the whole plant, boiling it in a vessel to obtain the volatile oil to inhale to cure catarrh and bronchial affections. The Menomini also used this plant as a remedy for catarrh, steeping the leaves and inflorescences in a tea. The Meskwaki used this plant in combination with other plants to relieve colds. The Hocak (Winnebago) used wild bergamot in their sweat bath and inhaled the fumes to cure colds. A decoction of boiled leaves was used as a cure for eruptions on the face. The Cherokee made a warm poultice of the plant to relieve a headache. The Teton Dakota boiled together the leaves and flowers as a cure for abdominal pains. The Blackfoot made a tea from the blossoms and leaves to cure stomach pains. They also applied boiled leaves to the pustules of acne. The Tewa dried the plant and ground it into a powder that was rubbed over the head to cure headaches, over the body to cure fever, and as a remedy for sore eyes and colds. Early white settlers used it as a diaphoretic and carminative, and occasionally employed it for the relief of flatulent colic, nausea and vomiting.' End quote.
Plant location: Seen in the Rocky Mountain foothills in Colorado state at Hwy 72 and Plainview Road. The date was July 11, 2008. This plant is found in upland woods, thickets, and prairies from Quebec to Manitoba and British Columbia south to Georgia, Louisiana, and Arizona. Bloom period: June through September. These leaves, when crushed, exude a spicy, highly fragrant oil.
Wooly -or- Hairy Vetch (Vicia villosa), family Fabaceae (Pea). With it's tall slender configuration of blossom these flowers could be initially mistaken for Foxglove. Until you look down it's throat! There are generous numbers of species to this genus, about 140. It is an immigrant from Europe, Asia, and Africa. This genus has seen it's day of fame in Hollywood. One of the species, Vicia faba, was mentioned as a food delicacy in the movie Silence of the Lambs - the Fava Bean! Ewwww! Something to watch out for with this genus; some of the members produce a seed that resembles lentil. But they are not fit for human consumption according to WIKIPEDIA. They are toxic and have been banned to export to such lentil eating countries, as for example, Egypt and Pakistan.
USES: The website Native American Ethnobotany has these records of uses of Vicia villosa by Native Americans: Rappahannock Drug (Dermatological Aid) - Compound infusion with dried leaves taken for sores. Rappahannock Drug (Gastrointestinal Aid) Compound infusion with dried leaves taken for stomach pain. ALSO: Vicia villosa, is cultivated for forage material for livestock and for green manure (an example of fast growing plants that are used to increase the fertility of soil). Both seeds and leaves of this plant are edible.
Plant location: Seen in the Larch Mountain-Columbia Gorge Oregon area, early July 2007. Bloom period: Roughly May through July.
Pasqueflower -or- Wild Tulip -or- Windflower -or- Prairie Crocus (Pulsatilla ludoviciana), family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup). These lovely plants produce blooms quite early in the season, often in time for Easter. In fact author Janis Lindsey Huggins points out in her book Wild at Heart (see our review here) that the name comes from the French word for Easter. There are a number of sub-species of Pasqueflower. We are uncertain which this is. According to Huggins the plant is an 'effective sedative and restorative for the nervous system.' See more excellent photographs of Pasqueflowers at Southwest Colorado Wildflowers online, along with interesting information. The genus Pulsatilla hosts approximately 30 species. One of the species is the state flower of South Dakota. Manitoba Canada claims the Pasqueflower as it's provincial flower. The genus Pulsatilla is sometimes classed as a subgenus to Anemone. For more photographs of Pasqueflowers we've seen go here.
USES: Per WIKIPEDIA is the fact that we have seen mentioned in only one book; 'Pasque flower is highly toxic, and produces cardiogenic toxins and oxytoxins which slow the heart in humans, and has been used as a medicine by Native Americans for centuries. Blackfeet Indians used Pasque Flower to induce abortions and childbirth.' End qote. There is on record a lengthly list of medical uses of the plants, which were listed in the United States pharmacopoeia from 1882 to 1905. Details of American Indian uses of plants from this genus can be found on the Native American Ethnobotany website. Enter PULSATILLA in the search box and press your enter key. Amoung the results: Blackfoot Drug (Analgesic) - Ripe seed head "cotton" burned on hot coals and the smoke inhaled for headaches.
Plant location: Hwy 40 between Walden and Grandby Colorado. The date was July 8, 2008. This is a montane to subalpine dweller. These pretty flowers were scattered on the forest floor under a grove of pine trees, mostly in the shade. Bloom period: The bloom time for these delicate looking flowers is fairly long - can be from March through August depending on the location.
These lovely lavender or purple blooms belong to the Showy Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum), family Polemoniaceae (Phlox). As attractive as these flowers are, they are said to have a fragrance uncomfortably close to a certain black and white stripped animal. We did not put this to the test, but certainly enjoyed the lovely sight of them. They are known to grow in elevations of 5000 feet to 10,000 feet. From our research we learned that there are only about 25 species of Polemonium that flower. There are known species in the Andes mountains in South America. More photographs of Showy Jacob's Ladder here.
USES: From the website Native American Ethnobotany the Thompson Indians used a decoction of the plants as a wash for head and hair.
The flowers can be deep shades of blue to almost white. It is native to western North America from Alaska and Yukon to Arizona and New Mexico. It is said that a war was once fought over who discovered this species. Plant location: We saw this specimen in the Mt Rainier, Sunrise area, on July 7, 2007. The species is found in the following locations in the United States and Canada: USA (AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY), CAN (AB, BC, NT, YT). Bloom period: a short show, July and August.
Prairie Bluebell (Mertensia lanceolata), family Boraginaceae (Borage). This Mertensia species presents a few challenges to identify at first glance. The flowers are similiar to other Mertensias that we have found and need to be examined carefully to determine 'who' they are. One main characteristic is the style (Weber defines this as the slender upper part of the carpel) projecting farther than the anthers. See this on the additional photographs page of this species, here. However, Weber's keys also point out that the species is variable and complex, merging and re-combining in puzzling ways. For example the limbs and lobes of the flowers may or may not be widely spreading. The plants are also known to grow at varying elevations and could be separated into alpine and lowland members. Lanceolata is similiar to brevistyla.
There are roughly 18 species in the genus Mertensia, with the following varieties of lanceolata: brachyloba, coriacea, lanceolata, secundorum, fenderli, nivalis, pubens, and viridis.
Plant location: Plainview Road (Golden Colorado) on April 20, 2010. The elevation was 6502'. GPS coordinates: N39°52.735 W105°16.217. Many plants are in the area, low to the ground, with an average height of 3 to 5" tall. In the USA: (CO, MT, ND, NE, NM, SD, UT, WY), and Canada: (AB, MB, SK). Bloom period: Early spring through about June.
Mountain Bog Gentian (Gentiana calycosa), family Gentianaceae (Gentian). Also called Explorer's gentian. This is another wildflower that I simply relish the sight of. The deep rich color and simple, yet royal, shape of the flowers are so pleasing to look upon. For many more excellent pics see CalPhotos collection. This is another water lover. Often , then, one is treated to the cool and refreshing sounds of moving water as the plant is taken in by the eyes. Lovely. These flowers are especially rewarding since many of the 'regulars' of the wildflower world are done for the season by the time Mountain Bog is just coming to it's fruition. Our specimens enjoy being above it all - their elevation range is from 4000' to 13,000'. The Gentiana genus nunmbers about 400 species. See more of our photographs here.
FunFact: Gentian root is a major flavor component in New England's regionally popular soft drink Moxie.' The name is a tribute to the Illyrian King Gent who used the flower to heal his wounded soldiers. The best known city in the Illyrian Empire where the flower was found is located in the southwest of Montenegro. Montenegro is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east and Albania to the south... today, called Sac (Shas, in Albanian).
This species is native to the mid-elevation mountains of the western United States and Canada from the Sierra Nevada of California to the Canadian Cascades. The plants are perennials. Plant location: The Wonderland Trail, Mt. Rainier (Washington state), mid August 2007. Found in the following United States: (CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY), and Canada: (AB, BC). Some species also occur in northwest Africa, eastern Australia and New Zealand. Bloom period: later in the year - August and September.
Sidebells Penstemon (Penstemon secundiflorus), was family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), re-classed to family Plantaginaceae (Plantain). See WIKIPEDIA for a detailed account of the changes. We mention both genus since many websites are not yet noting the move. The key used to identify this plant was from Colorado Flora Eastern Slope by Weber and Wittmann. According to the USDA Plant database, this species of Penstemon is found in only 3 states; Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. It is a perennial herb that is native to the continental United States. This plant is similiar in appearance to Penstemon Unilateralis. However, the foliage in the unilatralis is distincly more narrow than secundiflorus. Per WIKIPEDIA on the genus Penstemon: They have opposite leaves, partly tube-shaped and two-lipped flowers and seed capsules. The most distinctive feature of the genus is the prominent staminode, an infertile stamen. The staminode takes a variety of forms in the different species; while typically a long straight filament extending to the mouth of the corolla, some are longer and extremely hairy, giving the general appearance of an open mouth with a fuzzy tongue protruding and inspiring the common name beardtongue.
USES: In North America, penstemon species are often used in Xeriscape landscaping, as many are native to desert or alpine regions and thus quite hardy. One of the largest collections of penstemon species in North America is found at The Arboretum at Flagstaff, which hosts a Penstemon Festival each summer. Some seed companies sell this species as a hummingbird attractor.
Additional photographs of Sidebells Penstemon seen in the Rocky Mountain National Park on May 27, 2009. Plant location: Big Dry Creek Open Space, Westminster Colorado - May 25, 2008. Bloom period: commonly a short bloom time, April and May.
Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve), family Asteraceae (Aster). According to the USDA Plant Database there are approximately 90 species in the genus Symphyotrichum. William Weber, in his book Colorado Flora Eastern Slope, speaks of the ambiguous state of the nomenclature of Asters. He does not list any species of the genus Symphyotrichum in Colorado. Per WIKIPEDIA: 'The majority are endemic in North America, but several species also occur in the West Indies, Central and South America, as well as in eastern Eurasia. Furthermore, many species have been introduced to Europe as garden specimens, most notably the New England aster and the New York aster.' End quote. There are four subspecies of Smooth Blue Aster; laeve, concinnum, geyeri, and purpuratum. Not certain which this example is.
USES: The website Native American Ethnobotany has a number of uses by Native American tribes on record for this plant; 'var laeve - Meskwaki Drug (Herbal Steam). Entire plant used to furnish smoke in sweatbath. var laeve - Meskwaki Drug (Stimulant). Smoke forced into nostrils of unconscious patient to revive him. var geyeri - Keres, Western Food. Flowers mixed with parched corn and eaten. var geyeri - Keres, Western Dye. Flowers mixed with white clay and used to dye wool or eggs. var geyeri - Keres, Western Other (Paint). Petals mixed with whitewash.' End quote.

Plant location: Seen in the area of Creedmore Lake, Colorado, on August 31, 2008. This is one widespread plant. It blankets the United States and much of Canada.

Bloom period: Unknown. This species is a perennial herb/forb. The phyllaries of this species is smooth and looks matted together rather than curly or fingered.
Dusky Beardtongue (Penstemon whippleanus), was family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort), re-classed to family Plantaginaceae (Plantain). See WIKIPEDIA for a detailed account of the changes. We mention both families since many websites are not yet noting the move. The key used to identify this plant was from Colorado Flora Eastern Slope by Weber and Wittmann. For once a plant name makes sense - it does rather look like it is sticking out it's tongue, don't you agree!
INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH.... Native Americans long used penstemon roots to relieve toothache. Fieldwork in the remote parts of the Great Basin during the 20th century brought the total number of species known to over 250. In 1946 the American Penstemon Society was formed to promote both horticultural and botanical interest. From that website: 'Penstemons are an exclusive family of flowering plants found only in North America. In addition to the natural species there are over 800 cultivars and hybrids that have been developed by plant breeders over the last 300+ years. Penstemons range in size from an inch or so to over seven feet in height and the color range of their flowers covers the spectrum.'
See the white whippleanus here. Plant location: Rocky Mountain National Park on July 17, 2008 and Boreas Pass Colorado on September 14, 2008. This plant is a perennial native to the continental United States. It can be found in the following states: Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Bloom period: Summer to early fall - July to September.