Identification: blues

Discussion in 'Pacific Northwest Native Plants' started by Tomina, Jul 25, 2011.

  1. Tomina

    Tomina Active Member 10 Years

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    Alas, I've searched E-flora photos and my books for veronica....and campanula varieties, but nothing seems to fit the green foliage of any of these three plants. They are separate plants but all from the same alpine area in the same week. (Cathedral PP, in BC) At 7000 feet or so, early July - which this year, would be like early June in other years.

    I had thought the first photo (with my hand) and the last photo were a veronica...worm...(speedwell) upon sighting them, but then the example of the cluster (middle photo) with flowers drooping over confused me entirely. That middle one, was in more of an alpine meadow and the others were more in alpine wood....?? I note the foliage seems to be the same for all three.

    Your interest and help is much appreciated!
     

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  2. Tomina

    Tomina Active Member 10 Years

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    Replying to my own post!!
    Now I'm wondering about polemonium calcifornicum - showy Jacob's Ladder???
    Never saw this before in many years of hiking.
    Confirmation?
     
  3. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Definitely a Polemonium, I'd (off-hand) say Polemonium pulcherrimum.

    I'll have a closer look when I'm back in the office next week.
     
  4. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    I'm more certain about my initial identification now that I've looked at other resources.
     
  5. Tomina

    Tomina Active Member 10 Years

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    Great.
    I'm find it difficult to see the difference between P. pulcherrimum and P. calcifornicum.
    Is it easy to describe?
    Thx
     
  6. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Well.. for one, Polemonium californicum is not known from British Columbia, though it does occur just to the south across the border. P. californicum has also been sometimes considered a variety of P. pulcherrimum, so the differences are slight. From Flora of the Pacific Northwest, where P. californicum is treated as Polemonium pulcherrimum var. calycinum:

    I do believe I have a photo of Polemonium californicum from last week's trip to the Olympics (though I didn't know it at the time) -- I just thought that they were some very healthy-looking / robust Polemonium pulcherrimum, but given the large size, I'm guessing that they should turn out to be P. californicum.
     

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