BORAGINACEAE

BORAGE FAMILY

Annual, perennial herb, shrubs, generally bristly or sharply hairy
Stem prostrate to erect
Leaves cauline, often with basal rosette, generally simple, alternate; lower sometimes opposite, entire
Inflorescence: cyme, generally elongate, panicle-, raceme- or spike-like, coiled in flower, generally uncoiled in fruit or flowers 1–2 per axil
Flowers generally bisexual, generally radial; sepals 5, free or fused in lower half; corolla 5-lobed, generally salverform, top of tube generally appendaged, appendages 5, alternating with stamens, sometimes arching over tube; stamens 5, epipetalous; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed, style generally entire
Fruit: nutlets 1–4, smooth to variously roughened, sometimes prickly or bristled
Genera in family: ± 100 genera, ± 2000 species: tropical, temp, especially w North America, Medit; some cultivated (Borago, Echium, Myosotis, Symphytum ). Almost all genera may be TOXIC from alkaloids or accumulated nitrates
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Hydrophyllaceae [Olmsted et al. 2000 Mol Phylog Evol 16:96–112]
Family description, key to genera by Timothy C. Messick.

MERTENSIA

BLUEBELLS, LUNGWORT

Elaine Joyal

Perennial from branched caudex, glabrous to coarsely hairy
Stem ± erect
Leaves cauline and generally basal, alternate, generally petioled (upper generally sessile)
Inflorescence: cyme, generally panicle- or raceme-like; bracts 0
Flower: calyx generally deeply lobed; corolla blue, generally abruptly expanded at throat, limb often ± cylindric or flared; filaments often ± flat, generally attached ± below obvious corolla appendages, anthers included
Fruit: nutlets generally wrinkled, each attached near or below middle to convex receptacle
Species in genus: ± 50 species: North America, temp Eurasia
Etymology: (F.C. Mertens, Germany, 1764–1831)
Reference: [Milek 1988 PhD U Northern Colorado; Strachan 1988 PhD U Montana]
Hybrids common; identification sometimes difficult, especially in MP.
Horticultural information: TRY; DFCLT.

Native

M. oblongifolia (Nutt.) G. Don

SAGEBRUSH BLUEBELLS

Plant generally < 4 dm, glabrous to strigose
Stems many, firmly attached to stout, deep, sometimes fleshy caudex
Leaves: basal generally well developed; cauline generally 2.5–7 X longer than wide, lateral veins obscure, lower leaves generally petioled
Inflorescence ± panicle-like, generally dense
Flower: corolla 10–20 mm, tube generally 1.3–2 X longer than limb, sometimes with ring of hairs inside; filaments wide, ± = anthers; style ± included
Ecology: Open slopes, drier meadows, generally spring-moist places, especially with sagebrush
Elevation: 1000–3000 m.
Bioregional distribution: High Cascade Range, n&c High Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, n East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: to Washington, Wyoming, Colorado
Polyploid complex (2n=24,48); CA vars. sometimes found together in Wrn.

Native

var. oblongifolia

Stem generally > 20 cm
Leaf hairy on upper surface, glabrous on lower
Flower: corolla tube hairy inside
Chromosomes: 2n=48
Ecology: Habitats and elev. generally of sp.
Bioregional distribution: Modoc Plateau (especially Warner Mountains)
Distribution outside California: to e Washington, Wyoming, Utah