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Mertensia ciliata

(James ex Torr.) G. Don

Streamside Bluebells

G5Secure Found in 176 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141834
Element CodePDBOR0N070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderLamiales
FamilyBoraginaceae
GenusMertensia
Other Common Names
Mountain Bluebells (EN) tall fringed bluebells (EN) Tall Fringed Bluebells (EN)
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
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2023-07-17
Change Date1990-06-04
Edition Date2023-07-17
Edition AuthorsNordman, C. (2023).
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Mertensia ciliata occurs in the western United States, there are more than 300 occurrences and it is described as common in in moist places along streams and creeks and moist meadows.
Range Extent Comments
Mertensia ciliata occurs in the western United States, from Colorado and the Black Hills of western South Dakota, west to the Cascades of Washington, south to California Sierra Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. Based on herbarium records, and photo-based observations of Mertensia ciliata documented between 1992 and 2023, the range extent is about 1.9 million square kilometers (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Occurrences Comments
Based on herbarium records, and photo-based observations documented between 1992 and 2023, there are more than 300 Mertensia ciliata occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2023, iNaturalist 2023).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species is found in damp thickets, wet meadows, and along streams (Wildflower Center 2015).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceous
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
OregonSNRYes
South DakotaS1Yes
UtahSNRYes
ColoradoS4Yes
NevadaS3Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
New MexicoS2Yes
IdahoSNRYes
MontanaS4Yes
WyomingS5Yes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (176)
California (33)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Caples CreekEldorado National Forest17,854
Carson - IcebergStanislaus National Forest56,430
Castle PeakTahoe National Forest14,974
ChannellSequoia National Forest45,429
Chips CreekLassen National Forest29,089
DardanellesEldorado National Forest8,110
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
DomeStanislaus National Forest11,085
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
EagleStanislaus National Forest16,116
EbbettsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest255
Hoover - Emma LakeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,007
Hoover - NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,574
Iceberg - Mill CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest26,988
Iceberg - RodriquezHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest229
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
Mt. RebaStanislaus National Forest3,869
NightStanislaus National Forest3,173
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
Raymond PeakEldorado National Forest2,518
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
San JoaquinSierra National Forest22,474
SinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,004
Slate Mtn.Sequoia National Forest12,299
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Tragedy - Elephants BackEldorado National Forest20,866
WaterhouseStanislaus National Forest4,394
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Colorado (9)
AreaForestAcres
Bristol HeadRio Grande NF46,087
Comanche Peak Adjacent AreaArapaho & Roosevelt NFs44,158
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
Long ParkRoutt NF42,100
Pole Mountain / Finger MesaRio Grande NF43,863
Red TableWhite River NF39,122
San MiguelSan Juan NF64,263
Storm PeakSan Juan NF57,617
Troublesome SouthRoutt NF47,359
Idaho (9)
AreaForestAcres
Borah PeakSalmon-Challis National Forest130,463
Boulder - White CloudsSawtooth National Forest322,653
Boulder - White CloudsSalmon-Challis National Forest139,297
Lemhi RangeSalmon-Challis National Forest308,533
PalisadesCaribou-Targhee National Forest122,002
Pioneer MountainsSawtooth National Forest119,563
Pioneer MountainsSalmon-Challis National Forest172,460
SeceshPayette National Forest248,088
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (30)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanHelena National Forest51,360
BeartoothGallatin National Forest5,285
Big BaldyLewis and Clark National Forest43,135
Big Horn MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest50,846
Big Snowy Mountains WsaLewis and Clark National Forest88,003
BridgerGallatin National Forest45,059
Cabin Creek Wildlife Management Area OcdGallatin National Forest35,048
Crazy MountainGallatin National Forest82,093
East PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest145,082
Electric PeakBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest17,997
Electric PeakHelena National Forest27,872
Freezeout MountainBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest97,305
Gallatin FringeGallatin National Forest51,571
HoodooLolo National Forest105,162
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study AreaGallatin National Forest143,991
Line Creek PlateauCuster National Forest24,825
MadisonGallatin National Forest127,859
Middle Fork Judith WsaLewis and Clark National Forest81,131
Middle Mtn. / Tobacco RootsBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest96,487
Mt. Gmt Area HCuster National Forest1,335
North AbsarokaGallatin National Forest159,075
North AbsarokaCuster National Forest21,063
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
Proposed Line Creek PrnaCuster National Forest389
Red Lodge Creek HellroaringCuster National Forest17,210
ReefGallatin National Forest2,500
Silver KingBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest64,289
VigilanteBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest15,893
West Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest133,563
West PioneerBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest248,631
Nevada (10)
AreaForestAcres
Arc Dome - MahoganyHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,208
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
ButtermilkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest19,373
Humboldt - Angel LkHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,008
Mahogany RidgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest16,765
Pearl PeakHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest71,405
Ruby - Lamoille CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest32,771
Ruby - ThompsonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,289
Santa RosaHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest54,555
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
New Mexico (5)
AreaForestAcres
Bull - Of - The - WoodsCarson National Forest488
Columbine - Hondo Wilderness Study AreaCarson National Forest43,739
Latir PeakCarson National Forest3,573
Pecos WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest5,396
Wheeler Peak WildernessCarson National Forest2,677
Oregon (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
Little SheepWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,238
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Twin MountainWallowa-Whitman National Forest58,533
Utah (32)
AreaForestAcres
0401004Ashley National Forest10,510
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0401007Ashley National Forest16,483
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418003Uinta National Forest10,912
418004Uinta National Forest16,661
418012Uinta National Forest25,758
418013Uinta National Forest14,643
418026Uinta National Forest14,038
418027Uinta National Forest13,884
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Bullion - DelanoFishlake National Forest14,917
HancockDixie National Forest9,809
High Uintas (UT)Wasatch-Cache National Forest102,398
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
LakesWasatch-Cache National Forest121,967
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Middle FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,296
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Mt. Logan NorthWasatch-Cache National Forest18,930
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
Mt. NaomiWasatch-Cache National Forest41,922
Mt. OlympusWasatch-Cache National Forest9,982
North FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest8,148
Right Hand Fork LoganWasatch-Cache National Forest15,023
South FrancisWasatch-Cache National Forest3,374
Temple PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest24,081
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
Twin PeaksWasatch-Cache National Forest6,157
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bald SnowColville National Forest23,198
ProfanityColville National Forest28,944
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
Wyoming (39)
AreaForestAcres
Bear RocksBighorn National Forest25,023
Beartooth Proposed WildernessShoshone National Forest16,837
Canyon CreekShoshone National Forest7,530
Cloud Peak ContiguousBighorn National Forest113,757
Devils CanyonBighorn National Forest37,416
Dunoir Special Management UnitShoshone National Forest29,719
French CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest5,928
Grayback RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest295,113
Gros Ventre MountainsBridger-Teton National Forest106,418
Horse Creek MesaBighorn National Forest77,808
Illinois CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest6,711
Libby FlatsMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest11,107
Little BighornBighorn National Forest133,949
Little Sheep MountainBridger-Teton National Forest14,192
Middle ForkShoshone National Forest51,772
Monument RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest17,720
Mosquito Lake - Seven LakesBridger-Teton National Forest51,950
Pacific Creek - Blackrock CreekBridger-Teton National Forest24,658
PalisadesTarghee National Forest1,121
Phillips RidgeBridger-Teton National Forest10,108
Platte River AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,962
ReefShoshone National Forest16,817
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
Rock CreekBighorn National Forest48,657
Sibley LakeBighorn National Forest10,367
Sleeping GiantShoshone National Forest5,176
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
South Beartooth HighwayShoshone National Forest105,570
South ForkShoshone National Forest64,903
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre RiverBridger-Teton National Forest166,097
Sulphur CreekShoshone National Forest30,221
Teton Corridor TrailheadsBridger-Teton National Forest286
Togwotee PassShoshone National Forest7,344
Walker PrairieBighorn National Forest62,434
Warm Spring CreekShoshone National Forest6,216
West Slope TetonsTarghee National Forest47,448
West Slope WindsBridger-Teton National Forest143,252
Wilderness Study AreaTarghee National Forest51,961
Windy MountainShoshone National Forest31,283
References (7)
  1. Ackerfield, J. 2015. Flora of Colorado. Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Fort Worth, TX. 818 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2023. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2023).
  3. Goodrich, S. and A. Huber. 2016. Uinta Flora, A Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Uinta Basin and Uinta Mountains. Edited by Steve W. Chadde. Orchard Innovations, from Goodrich and Huber's 2016 update of Uinta Flora, USDA Forest Service.
  4. iNaturalist. 2023. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2023).
  5. 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.
  6. Munz, P.A., with D.D. Keck. 1959. A California flora. Univ. California Press, Berkeley. 1681 pp.
  7. Wildflower Center. 2015. Native Plant Database: <i>Mertensia ciliate</i>. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas, Austin. Accessed: September 20, 2022. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MECI3