BERBERIDACEAE -- Barberry Family - New Mexico Flores

Scientific Name:
Macromeria viridiflora var. thurberi
Size:
50 - 100 cm
BORAGINACEAE -- Borage Family
Description:
Erect perennial herb, stems sparingly branched,
with bristly hairs. Leaves alternate, sessile,
smooth-edged, strongly veined, lanceolate, 5 -
11 cm long, 1 - 4 cm wide, at least upper surface
with bristly, broad-based hairs up to 1 mm long,
leaves reduced above. Flowers perfect, on short
stalks, in coiled clusters at stem ends. Calyx 8 -
18 mm long, deeply incised into 5 linear lobes,
hairy. Corolla tubular funnel-shaped, 4 - 6 cm
long, bristly-hairy on the outside, with 5
spreading, pointed lobes. Stamens 5, 1 - 2 cm
long, slightly protruding, anthers 3 - 4 mm long.
Style 1, protruding, greatly protruding from
young fruit. Fruit of 4 nutlets, ovoid, smooth
and shiny.
140
Common Name:
Large-flowered gromwell
Color:
Greenish-yellow
Notes:
The genus name Macromeria comes from the
Greek macros, “large” and meris, “part”.
Compared to most members of the Borage
family, the parts of this plant are indeed large:
long stems, large leaves, and particularly huge
flowers. The genus Macromeria contains 11
species, all from Mexico and Guatemala except
the two varieties of the species viridiflora
(meaning green-flowered) which occur in New
Mexico and Arizona. Large-flowered gromwell
blooms from early July through August between
6500 and 9000 ft.
New Mexico Native