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Britton's Skullcap (Scutellaria brittonii), family Lamiaceae (Mint).
It's easy to see where the name Skullcap comes from with this flower...when it is looked at in profile. Additional photographs show this here. The genus Scutellaria hosts about 300 species including brittonii, which is native to the United States. Information is scant on the perennial forb/herb. The plants can grow up to 10" in height. The plants in the area we found were rather few, only about 3 were blooming, none over about 4" tall. The plants are fire-resistant. William Weber (Colorado Flora, Eastern Slope) lists only three members of the genus in Colorado, one - laterifolia - is discussed below:
USES: Skullcap was once called mad-dog weed because of its use during the eighteenth century to treat rabies. In addition, Native Americans used skullcap as a sedative, tranquilizer, and digestive aid. Other cultures have used it as sedative and to lower fevers. Products containing skullcap should not be used in pregnancy or lactation. Before beginning herbal treatment. People should consult a physician, practitioner, or herbalist.
Plant location: Mark found this lovely little plant off the roadside along Left Hand Canyon Drive, Boulder County , Colorado on June 9, 2010. GPS coordinates: N40°06.427 W105°19.134 - Elevation: 5522'. The plants are found only in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska.
Bloom season: May through July. -
Sugarbowls -or- Leatherflowers -or- Hairy Clematis -or- Vase Flower (Clematis hirsutissima), family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup).
William Weber places this species in the genus Coriflora but it is most commonly found as a Clematis. No matter what common name is used, these flowers are distinctive and charming. Their upside-down aspect is captivating. The species name hirsutissima means 'very hairy' and these plants certainly are. Everywhere. Over 50 species share the genus Clematis, with hirsutissima being a perennial herb in the group. There are 3 varieties: var. hirsutissima, var. arizonica, and var. scottii. Many of the flowers are so covered with long white hairs that their 'bowl' appears silver. The flesh of the petals is quite thick, hence the leather origin of the common name. Something unusual about this species of Clematis is that it does not vine. See more of our images of this species here. USES: The ever wonderful website Native American Ethnobotany shows these records of involvement by Native Americans with Sugarbowls: Montana - Decoction of leaves used for headaches. Scraped root held in nostril of fallen horse and acted as a stimulant to animal. Navajo, Ramah - Root used for congested nose pain. Cold infusion of plant or root taken and used as a lotion to protect from witches.
From another great website, Montana Plant Life, is this: Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, some if not all members of this genus are mildly poisonous. The toxic principle is dissipated by heat or by drying. Other uses are: The seed floss makes an excellent tinder for starting fires, a spark from a flint will quickly ignite it. The seed floss can be used as an insulation in shoes etc.
FACTOID: The plant family Ranunculaceae is one of the few characterized by protogyny, a feature of more primitive families where the female parts mature before the male parts of the flower as a strategy to avoid self-pollination. Thanks to the Colorado State University Extension website for this information.
Another Common name for Sugarbowls is Lion's Beard. The plant in it's seeding stage produces a fantastical looking 'plume' to help disperse it's seeds. See great pics of this at Southwest Colorado Wildflowers. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
Plant location: Another find hiking the Meyer Open Sapce - Lodgepole Loop trail - Colorado, on May 16, 2010. GPS coordinates: N39°32.718 W105°16.368 - Elevation: 7976'. A native to the U.S., these plants are found in the following United States: AZ, CO, ID, MT, NE, NM, OK, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY. None are shown in Canada. Habitats include: pondersosa pine forests, open, grassy slopes, sagebrush plains, and meadows.
Bloom season: April through July. A clear shot of the foliage was hard to capture. Much of it was degraded or englulfed in surrounding vegetation. This species is a foothills dweller. -
Showy Vervain -or- Dakota mock vervain -or- Prairie verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida), family Verbenaceae (Verbena).
A native to the Americas, this plant is one of about 18 species in the genus. They can be annual or perennials. Positives with the plants are that they are bird attractors, are drought and deer resistant, and are a nectar source. The plants are not unusual to find in open grassy areas, which is where we saw this specimen. Bipinnatifida is the only member of the genus Glandularia in Colorado, according to William Weber (Colorado Flora Eastern Slope).
USES: From the wonderful and interesting website Native American Ethnobotany are these recorded uses: Keres, Western Drug Leaves crushed with rocks and rubbed on snakebites. Infusion of leaves used as a gargle for sore throat. Navajo, Ramah Drug (Panacea) Plant used as "life medicine."
Plant location: Found on Hwy 96, outside Beulah, Colorado on May 5, 2010 - GPS coordinates: N38°14.814 W105°02.074 - Elevation: 5596'. This species is found in about half of the United States: AL , AZ , AR , CA , CO , GA , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MS , MO , NE , NM , OK , SD , TN , TX , WI , WY.
Bloom season: Extensive - March through October. -
Rampion bellflower -or- Creeping Bellflower -or- Rampion Harebell (Campanula rapunculoides), family Campanulaceae (Bellflower).
Big and beautiful, these cousins to the more common harebells, show off blossoms at least twice as large as their smaller peers. The lovely shade of blue-purple is just as pleasing. The plants are tall and skinny with the blooms arranged in a row along a single stalk. They are one of 38 species in the genus.
USES: Per the fine website Plants For A Future, this species is edible. Leaves and young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and are high in vitamin C with a pleasant, if mild, flavour. The roots too can be consumed raw or cooked and are slightly sweet with a nut-like flavour. The young roots are best making a good addition to salads. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and Central North America likens the flavor to parsnips. While there are no records of Native American use of rapunculoides, they made significant use of rotundifolia. See those here. The plant has been used as a cure for hydrophobia (rabies) in Russia.
Introduced from Europe and western Siberia, many locations in North America classify the plants as invasive weeds.
See the other Campanula plant - Common Harebell - found at:
Plant location: Sighted on July 10, 2010 at Roxborough Park Colorado. GPS coordinates: N39°25.746 W105°04.179 - Elevation: 6209'.
Rapunculoides are widespread plants found in the following United States: AK, CO, CT, DC, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY.
The Colorado State University Plant Database lists this species as uncommonly sighted in Colorado.
Bloom season: July to September, with seeds reaching maturity August to October. Plains/Foothills dweller, in Colorado. -
Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), family Brassicaceae (Mustard).
This is a genus with a solo member. The plants originated from Europe and have made themselves...er...overpopular. In Colorado, Connecticut, and Massachusetts they are classed in various stages of noxious weeds. Indeed, the plants are found in almost every state of the U.S. On a stand alone basis the plants are quite beautiful, tall with striking flowers that offer a pretty show from afar. Usually flowering takes place in the 2nd year of the plants life cycle. The flowers look very much like phlox, don't be fooled. The flowers are fragrant becoming more intensely so towards evening time, somewhat like cloves. USES: Per the website Plants For a Future: Young leaves - raw. Rich in vitamin C, they are used as a cress substitute in salads. A rather bitter flavour, though many people like the extra tang it gives to salads. For culinary purposes, the leaves should be picked before the plant flowers. The seed can be sprouted and added to salads. The seed contains 50% of an edible oil - there is a potential for cultivation. An essential oil from the seed is used in perfumery.
These plants are known by many common names: Dame's Rocket, Damask Violet, Dame's Violet, Dames-wort, Dame's Gilliflower, Night Scented Gilliflower, Queen's Gilliflower, Rogue's Gilliflower, Summer Lilac, Sweet Rocket, Mother-of-the-evening and, Winter Gilliflower.
Plant location: Seen off the roadside of Hwy 36, North, towards Estes Park, Colorado. The date was May 26, 2009.
Bloom season: From spring as late as August. -
Alfalfa -or- Medic -or- Lucerne (Medicago sativa), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean).
While looking a bit like clover, alfalfa is it's own man, and absolutely blankets the United States and Canada along with much of the remaining planet. An annual and perennial forb/herb, it is one of 38 species in the medicago genus. There are 5 subspecies of sativa; caerulea, falcata, glomerata, sativa, and tunetana. USES: From the website Native American Ethnobotany: Costanoan; Poultice of heated leaves applied to the ear for earaches. Navajo, Ramah; Plant cultivated, harvested, dried, stacked or stored in hogans and fed to livestock in winter. Okanagan-Colville; Plants placed above and below black tree lichen and camas in cooking pits for the sweet flavor. Shuswap; Used for horse feed. Keres, Western, and Other; Taxon known and named but no use was specified.
There are a number of excellent sources of information on the uses of alfalfa;
Per Montana Plant Life - Edible Uses: Alfalfa sprouts are used as a salad ingredient. Tender shoots are eaten in some places as a leaf vegetable. Human consumption of older plant parts is limited primarily by very high fiber content. Dehydrated alfalfa leaf is commercially available as a dietary supplement in several forms, such as tablets, powders and tea. Alfalfa is believed to be a galactagogue. The seeds can also be ground into a powder and used as a mush, or mixed with cereal flours for making a nutritionally improved bread etc. An appetite-stimulating tea is made from the leaves, and is slightly laxative. Medicinal Uses: Alfalfa has been used as an herbal medicine for over 1,500 years. Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium, plus other minerals, vitamin A, vitamins in the B group, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K. It was used medicinally by the Costanoan Indians, as an ear medicine. A poultice of heated leaves was applied to the ear for earaches. In early Chinese medicines, physicians used young alfalfa leaves to treat disorders related to the digestive tract and the kidneys. In India, ayurvedic physicians used the leaves for treating poor digestion. They made a cooling poultice from the seeds for boils. At the time, alfalfa was also believed to be helpful towards people suffering from arthritis and water retention. Alfalfa is majorly used in homeopathic medicines worldwide. Today, alfalfa is suggested for treating anemia, diabetes, to extend appetite and contribute towards weight gain, as a diuretic for increased urination, for indigestion and bladder disorders, alfalfa can also be used as an estrogen replacement in order to increase breast milk and to mitigate premenstrual syndrome, a dietary supplement, and to lower blood cholestrol levels.
Per Plants For A Future - Caution: The plant contains saponin-like substances. Eating large quantities of the leaves may cause the breakdown of red blood cells. However, although they are potentially harmful, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will normally remove most of them from the food. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish. Alfalfa sprouts (and especially the seeds) contain canavanine. Recent reports suggest that ingestion of this substance can cause the recurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (an ulcerous disease of the skin) in patients where the disease had become dormant. The FDA advises that children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems should avoid eating alfalfa sprouts due to bacterial contamination. Avoid during pregnancy and lactation. Avoid for people with hormone sensitive cancer. Avoid for people with gout (due to purines). Possible antagonize the anticoagulant effect of warfarin (due to vit K) and interfere with the immunosuppressant effect of corticosteroids.
Per Colorado State University Extension Plant Database - bee pollinated; flowers are sternotribic, i.e. anthers and stigma contact the underside of the pollinator; flower "explodes" when the pollinator probes the keel, thus tripping the restraining mechanism of the projections on keel and wing petals; native solitary bees and leafcutter bees are typical pollinators; honeybees rob the nectar by probing the keel from the side, thus avoiding the disturbance from flower explosion.
See the other Medicago plants - Black Medic - and the following mystery plant blooming in multiple colors! Purple - White - and Yellow found at:
Plant location: Sighted on a bicycle ride on Clear Creek Trail, Colorado - May 29, 2009. This major crop plant saturates all of the United States and Canada.
Bloom season: May through September. Plains and Foothills dweller. -
Sagebrush Mariposa Lily -or- Bigpod Mariposa (Calochortus macrocarpus), family Liliaceae (Lily).
Thank you BOB BAGLEY, for your contribution of these images!! The flowers of this plant can only be described as stunning! Bob emailed us recently wondering about the plants. He and his family were enchanted with the bloom, found during a family vacation at the Steam Boat Rock State Park in Eastern Washington State. This brought a bit of nostalgia for us, along with the delight in a beautiful flower. We enjoyed a family gathering some years back at that same park. This species was one of many collected on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The perennial herb is one of about 70 species in the genus, part of whose name means beautiful grass in Greek. Mariposa, in Spanish, means butterfly. Bob did a good job in showing two differing blossoms from this plant. Per the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower website about this species: 'One of the most frequent Mariposa Tulips in the arid Northwest. A white phase with a reddish stripe on each petal occurs in southeastern Washington and adjacent west-central Idaho.' The Burke Museum of University of Washington lists this species as native to Washington state (among probably others) and abundant and of no concern. USES: This species is edible in a few different forms and were used by Native Americans for food and in other ways: Okanagan-Colville - Poultice of mashed bulbs applied to the skin for poison ivy. Bulbs eaten raw or pit cooked with other roots. Roots used as a principle food. Corms formerly cooked and used for food. Sweet flower buds used for food. Klamath - Species used for food. Thompson - Mashed bulbs placed in cheesecloth and used for the eyes. Corms formerly cooked and used for food. Sweet flower buds used for food. Coated, starchy corms used for food. Sweet buds eaten. Unopened flowers eaten raw. Corms used for food, usually raw, but sometimes cooked. Shuswap Food (Forage) - Plant eaten by cattle and sheep. Paiute - Bulbs eaten raw, boiled or roasted.
FunFact: Miller, Allen and Antos, in the Canadian Journal of Botany: 1790-1799 (2004), observed that individual plants of Calochortus macrocarpus can remain dormant for a period of one to four years. This seems to be a strategy by the plant to avoid unfavourable environmental conditions in a particular year, allowing it to instead grow within an environmental regime that is more favourable to eventual reproduction.
There are two listed varieties of Calochortus macrocarpus: maculosus and macrocarpus. The presence of Maculosus is classed in sensitive status in Washington state. This could be due to the fact that grazing cattle find the bulbs of the plants (all types) appetizing, and also from possible over-collecting of the bulbs of the plants by people, which kills it. This gorgeous plant can be found from commercial sources if it is wanted for a cultivated garden or to grow for food. We have found 3 other species in the genus Calochortus in our wanders. See them: elegans - gunnisonii - lyallii. All of them are really lovely.
Plant location: Steam Boat Rock State Park in Eastern Washington State, on June 26, 2010. The exotic looking blooms are found in realtively few of the United States: California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. They also can be found in a small area of British Columbia Canada. Habitats are commonly dry plains, sagebrush slopes, and at elevations of about 4000-6000 ft. That is Steamboat Rock in the background :). Bob photographed the plant with a Canon EOS REBEL XTi.
Bloom season: June through August, depending of course on location and conditions, in dry, usually volcanic, soils. -
Field Milkvetch (Astragalus agrestis), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean).
Plant location: Sighted June 2, 2009 hiking a Boulder County Open Space.
Bloom season: May through August. -
Browse Milkvetch (Astragalus cibarius), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean).
A warm thank you to Dr. Matt Lavin, professor at Montana State University's College of Agriculture for pinpointing the identity of this species. This specimen of Browse Milkvetch was somewhat past it's prime, with the fruit of the plant appearing a scant 12 days after finding it in flower. A few flowers were fresh enough to show off it's attractive side. The perennial forb/herb is a member of the huge genus Astragalus which hosts over 3,000 species according to WIKIPEDIA. This may be a number based on worldwide populations although the genus is 'native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere'. The USDA Plant Database puts the number of species in Astragalus at 419. While many species in Astragalus appear to have been used by Native Americans or other cultures in numerous ways, there are no records of such uses of this species. The cibarius species appears in the FDA Poisonous Plant Database however, due to the presence of Aliphatic nitro compounds in the plants which cause livestock poisoning. In a 1978 citation 263 Astragalus species were found poisonous to livestock.
SYMPTOMS: 'Animals chronically poisoned by nitro-bearing Astragalus develop a general weakness in the hindquarters. Methemoglobin may reach 4 to 6% of total hemoglobin. Acutely poisoned animals die 4 to 20 hours after eating nitro-bearing Astragalus. The syndrome is characterized by general weakness, incoordination in the hindquarters, trembling, labored and audible breathing, collapse, and ultimately death from cardiac and respiratory failure.' End quote from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
Dr. Matt Lavin has a great set of cibarius photos and excellent technical information here.
More images of the plant that we saw are here.
Plant location: Seen at Legion Park Colorado. In flower on May 21, 2010 - in fruit on June 2, 2010. Not widespread throughout the United States, this species is found only in: CO, ID, MT, NV, UT, WY. The park is a prairie habitat environment, pleasant enough. For dedicated hikers another choice might be in order. The trail at Legion is a whopping .9 miles.
Bloom season: Our specimen was blooming in late May. Dr, Lavin's was photographed blooming in early July (in Idaho).
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Missouri Milkvetch (Astragalus missouriensis), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean).
We are declaring this a probable instance of Missouri Milkvetch pending future fruit examination.
Plant location: Sighted in the Westcliff/Pueblo Colorado area on May 5, 2010. The Colorado Soldier Beetles were in LOVE with the plants this day :)
Bloom season: Can be found in bloom as early as February in Colorado, through May.
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Strict Blue-eyed Grass -or- Mountain blue-eyed grass -or- Common blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum), family Iridaceae (Iris).
These striking looking flowers were a pleasing surprise on our hike in the Meyer Open Space. The perennial forb/herbs are one of 41 species in the genus Sisyrinchium. Only 4 of those are found in Colorado, montanum being the most common. The only other genus in Colorado in the family, IRIS, is even less populated in Colorado with 1 species - missouriensis. See our specimen found on a roadside in Boulder County, here. The native territory of montanum per WIKIPEDIA is: 'native to northern North America from Newfoundland west to easternmost Alaska, and south to Pennsylvania in the east, and to New Mexico in the Rocky Mountains'. End quote.
Blue-eyed grass is not really a grass. It is an unusual member of the iris family because it is native to prairie grasslands, whereas most iris prefer wet lands, per the University of Texas at Austin.
Montanum is classified as sensitive in Washington state and endangered in the states of Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, and Ohio.
More images and technical information on this species is here. USES: The single Native American tribe at Native American Ethnobotany with records of uses of montanum is: Iroquois - Used as a physic for old people. Decoction taken for fevers such as malaria and scarlet fever but not typhoid. Feared it was poison. At Plant-Life.org is this: The leaves of mountain blue-eyed-grass are edible cooked. They can be mixed with other greens. Native peoples used the roots of mountain blue-eyed-grass to make a tea for treating diarrhea, especially in children. A tea made from the entire plant was taken to cure stomachaches and to expel intestinal worms. Herbalists used these teas to treat menstrual disorders and for birth control. The plant has also been used as a laxative.
There are two varieties of Sisyrinchium montanum - montanum, and crebrum.
Plant location: Meyer Open Sapce - Lodgepole Loop trail - Colorado, on May 16, 2010. GPS coordinates: N39°32.392 W105°16.941 - Elevation: 8085'. Per the USDA Plant Database this species is found in most states of the U.S and it blankets Canada. The Colorado State University Extension website shows the plants as uncommon in Colorado. We did not capture a good plant view of this specimen.
More technical details showing in this plant view are here.
Bloom season: In Colorado the bloom season is shown as June. Other sources show May through July. The plants are plains/foothills dwellers. They will grow in moist, sandy, or dry soils. -
Prostrate Vervain -or- Common Vervain, -or- Bracted Verbena (Verbena bracteata), family Verbenaceae (Verbena).
Plant location: Sighted in Brighton Colorado on July 3, 2008.
Bloom season: April to October.