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.