Mountain Bluebells (Mertensia ciliata)
Aliases: Streamside Bluebells, Tall Fringed Bluebells, Ciliate Lungwort
Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
Habitat: Generally found in wet areas, though it can also be found along the roadside near the McGurk Meadow trailhead. The McGurk Meadow trail itself is a likely place to look for it.
Size: Up to four feet high.
Flowering Season: June - August
Lifespan: Perennial
Origins: Native (see distribution maps for California and US/Canada)
Mertensia ciliata etymology: The Mertensia genus is named for German botanist Franz Carl Mertens (1764 - 1831). Ciliata is derived from cilius, the Latin word for eyelids or eyelashes, and indicates a plant that has hairs along the fringes or edges of some important part of it.
This Photo: Along the McGurk Meadow trail, mid July
Other Resources: CalFlora · CalPhotos · USDA
