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Lithospermum
incisum
(Fringed Gromwell) Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, shrublands,
woodlands. Spring. An abundance of long, fringed, lemon-yellow
trumpets makes Lithospermum incisum a most attractive plant in
bloom. Typically the plant grows low to the ground but it may be as tall as
twenty inches. Notice last year's dried flower stems.
"Incisum", Latin,
refers to the incised, fringed edges of the trumpet flowers. The plant is
commonly known as "Puccoon" or "Fringed
Puccoon". |
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Lithospermum
incisum
(Fringed Gromwell) Semi-desert, foothills. Canyons, shrublands,
woodlands. Spring. Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 21, 2009. Lithospermum incisum begins flowering as the leaves emerge and continues flowering as the plant multiplies many-fold in size. The flowers in the lower photograph are nearly three inches long. |
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Lithospermum
multiflorum (Puccoon) Montane, subalpine. Woodlands,
openings. Summer. Bright yellow tubular flowers,
narrow, slightly toothed leaves; and a clumpy growth pattern characterize
Lithospermum multiflorum. Stems lean outward in all directions.
Flowers overall are smaller, have a much shorter tube, and have a more open
throat than those of Lithospermum incisum.
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Lithospermum ruderale (Puccoon)Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family) Foothills. Woodlands. Spring.Mesa Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 30, 2009. This Puccoon grows in crowded, tall, thick
clumps and is fairly common in Oakbrush woods. Lithospermum ruderale
has yellow-green, hairy stems and
tiny pale yellow-to-greenish-white flowers. Last year's dried stems can be seen in the new clump of stems and more obviously at the base of the new growth.
"Ruderale" is Latin for "rubbish", hence
"growing in waste places". |
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Lithospermum ruderale (Puccoon)Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family) Foothills. Woodlands. Spring.Mesa Verde Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 30, 2009. Stems are thick, crowded, and hairy. |
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Lithospermum ruderale (Puccoon)Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family) Foothills. Woodlands. Spring.Mesa Verde Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 30, 2009. Although the flowers are quite small and partially buried in the leaves, the overall aspect of the flowers and leaves is quite delicate and appealing. |
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Lithospermum ruderale (Puccoon)Boraginaceae (Forget-Me-Not Family) Foothills. Woodlands. Spring.Mesa Verde National Park, near amphitheater, May 14, 2004. |
