Polemonium viscosum
(Sky Pilot)
Polemonium viscosum, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0869
Polemonium viscosum, Crystal Lakes, Summit Co. 0735
Polemonium viscosum, Black Powder Pass, Summit Co. 0281
Polemonium viscosum, Crystal Lakes, Summit Co. 6132
Polemonium viscosum, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0863
Polemonium viscosum, Weston Pass, Park Co. 0873
Polemonium viscosum, Mt. Trelease, Clear Creek Co. 5058
Polemonium viscosum, Bald Mountain, Summit County 6461
| Scientific Name | Polemonium viscosum | USDA PLANTS Symbol | POVI |
| Common Name | Sky Pilot, Sticky Polemonium | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 31025 |
| Family | Polemoniaceae (Phlox) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Montane to alpine (9500 to 14500 ft.); open areas in high meadows and tundra. Plant: Perennial up to 12 inches tall with clumps of erect, sticky stems; foul-smelling. Leaves: Mostly basal leaves 2 to 5 inches long, pinnately-divided into many (13-39) small, lobed and sticky leaflets. Inflorescence:Dense, compact terminal cyme of a several deep purple to blue-violet tubular to funnel-shaped blossoms each almost 1 inch long, 5 lobes; corolla about as long as calyx, or shorter; yellow anthers. Bloom Period: June to August. References: "Guide to Colorado Wildflowers" by G.K. Guennel, "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, and SW Colorado Wildflowers. Note: There is significant disagreement amongst experts on the identities of P. viscosum and P. confertum. See SW Colorado Wildflowers for a discussion about this. The images here are believed to be P. viscosum. |
BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains