Mertensia ciliata

Mertensia ciliata is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names mountain bluebell, tall fringed bluebells, and streamside bluebells.

Description

Mertensia ciliata is a perennial herb producing a cluster of erect stems from a thick, branching caudex. The leafy stems reach well over a meter in maximum height. The leaves are up to long, veiny, and oval to lance-shaped.
Blooming from May to August, the inflorescence is an open array of many clustered blue bell-shaped flowers each between long. The hanging, fragrant flower is tubular, expanding into a wider, lobed mouth. As the individual flowers progress in age they change in color from blue to pink-red.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to the western United States, in California, Nevada, Utah, and Oregon. It often grows in moist habitat, such as subalpine meadows and creeksides. It often carpets large areas of meadow and hillside with blue-green foliage and sweet-scented bluebell blooms.

Ecology

The flowers bear poricidal anthers and are fertilized via buzz-pollination by several Bombus species. Primary nectar robbing by Bombus species, including B. occidentalis, is common in some populations.

Uses

The flowers, young stems and leaves are edible raw; older leaves should be cooked. The plant contains alkaloids so should not be eaten in high quantities.