Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Oregon Bluebells

Mertensia bella

Piper

Oregon Bluebells

G4Apparently Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.155084
Element CodePDBOR0N040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderLamiales
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusMertensia
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Review Date1985-09-06
Change Date1985-09-06
Range Extent Comments
Sw. OR, central ID, and adjacent MT. Disjunct.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Oregon Bluebells is a perennial herb with solitary stems that arise from a bulb-like root and that are 10-40 cm tall. The ovate leaves are thin, entire-margined, evidently veiny, and 38 cm long. The lowermost leaves are reduced to membranous sheaths, while the others have progressively reduced petioles upwards on the stem. The herbage is mostly glabrous. The blue flowers are stalked and borne in open inflorescences at the top of the stem and in the axils of the upper leaves. The lower two-thirds of the 5 petals are united into a bell-shaped corolla that is 6-10 mm long. The calyx is 2-3 mm long and sparsely hairy.

Diagnostic Characteristics

The bell-shaped flowers, which lack a distinct lower tubular portion and flaring upper portion, distinguish this species from all other bluebells.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
IdahoS3Yes
CaliforniaS1Yes
OregonSNRYes
MontanaS2Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (3)
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
Chucksney MountainWillamette National Forest15,369
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
References (5)
  1. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  2. Lichthardt, J.J. 1992. Report on the conservation status of <i>MERTENSIA BELLA</i> (Oregon bluebell) in Idaho.
  3. Lorain, C. C. 1988. Floristic history and distribution of coastal disjunct plants of the northern Rocky Mountains. M.S. thesis. College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow. 221 pp.
  4. Roe, L. S. 1991. Status review of MERTENSIA BELLA, USDA Forest Service, Region 1, Lolo National Forest, Montana. Unpublished report to the Lolo National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena, MT. 27 pp.
  5. Williams, L. O. 1937. A monograph of the genus <i>Mertensia </i>in North America. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 14:17-159.