Showy Stoneseed (Puccoon; Fringed Gromwell)
Lithospermum incisum Family: Boraginaceae – Borage Family Perennial herbs from a taproot; stems 3.9” to 1.6' (1 to 5 dm) tall Leaves: alternate; simple; hairy; linear; entire margins; 0.4” to 2” (10 to 50 mm) long Flowers: 5 united yellow tubular trumpet-shaped petals with wavy lobes; 5 sepals; 5 stamens; 2 carpels; flowers in racemes; bisexual; flowers 0.4” to 1.2” (10 to 30 mm) long Pollinators: insects Fruits: 4 nutlets Blooms in Arches National Park: March, April, May Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub and pinyon-juniper communities Location seen: Fiery Furnace Other: The genus name, “Lithospermum”, means “stone seed” which refers to the hard nutlet. The species name, “incisum”, means “somewhat cut or toothed” which refers to the lobes of the flower. The classification of this family is based primarily upon the structure of the fruit. |
Did You Know?
Feeding wildlife can be very detrimental to their health. It can destroy their natural ability to find food and create a dependency on humans. Animals that develop such a dependency often become aggressive toward humans and must be relocated or even killed.