Blue and violet wildflowers in-bloom in the first week of June
(from top-to-bottom, left-to-right: Penstemon sp., Mertensia longiflora,Delphinium bicolor, Lupinus sericeus, Viola adunca, Linum lewisii, Mertensia paniculata)
Lolo National Forest, MT
June 2014, 2015, 2016
Robert Niese
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Mertensia paniculata “Tall Bluebells” Boraginaceae
Great Burn, Lolo National Forest, MT
July 10, 2015
Robert Niese
These bluebells have distinctly bell-shaped corollas unlike many other species in our area. To be precise, their corolla “bells” are gently and roundly flared and are approximately 1.5 times longer than the “tube” section of the flower. They are also somewhat taller than other species in our area and are commonly found among other waist-high, meadow wildflowers.
Mertensia longiflora “Small Bluebells” Boraginaceae
Missoula, MT
May 13, 2014
Robert Niese
A common wildflower found throughout the Northwest east of the cascades.
Northwest Naturalist 