Scientific Name | Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | HYCAC |
Common Name | Ballhead Waterleaf | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 528508 |
Family | Hydrophyllaceae (Water-leaf) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills and montane (6200 to 10500 ft.); moister soils in forests and open meadows. Plant: Short perennial 4 to 20 inches tall; solitary or few stems. Leaves: A few relatively large mainly basal leaves, 1 to 4 inches long, pinnately-divided into 7 to 11 stalkless leaflets; upper leaflets united at bases, the lower ones separate; leaflets usually with 1 or 2 deep incisions or entire and not toothed. Inflorescence: Several flowers in dense, coiled heads (cymes) well below the leaves on peduncles 0.4 to 2 inches long and often bent back in fruit; the corolla is 0.2 to 0.4 inches long, with 5 white to lavender or purplish blue lobes; 5 long, protruding stamens; 5 calyx lobes with long, stiff hairs. Blooming period: May to July. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Montana Plant Life and Central Washington Native Plants. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
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