Mertensia longiflora
Plant species in the borage family
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mertensia longiflora is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names small bluebells and long bluebells.
| Mertensia longiflora | |
|---|---|
| |
| Mertensia longiflora near Cashmere, Chelan County Washington | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Mertensia |
| Species: | M. longiflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Mertensia longiflora | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Description
It is a perennial herb growing from branched and tuberous roots[3] in the form of a caudex. The erect stem averages about 18 centimetres (7+1⁄8 in) in height.[3] 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.[3] 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.[2]
| 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.[2]
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