Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - March 14, 2013
From: Terlingua, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Identification of pale blue flower near Big Bend, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have looked almost everywhere in order to ID this bloom with no luck. Some blooms do arrive close but not quite. I live just outside of Big Bend National Park in Terlingua, TX. On a hike into Dog Canyon we encountered a light blue bloom. One bloom per thin grassy stalk. The closest resemblance of the bloom is of Phlox. However, bloom is a very baby blue. The pistil and stamen stand upright prominently in the center of the flower. Bloom has five petals and is also cupped and each petal comes to a subtle point. There is no separation or space between the petals but overlap the one next to it. I have a photo if there was a way I could send it. Soil is sandy next to a dry wash. Bloom was in November.ANSWER:
Here are some possibilities for your plant. All of the suggested plants below have been recorded in or near Big Bend National Park. Some are only vaguely similar to your description but I thought I should offer you some choices. I hope that one of them is the plant you saw. If not, please visit our Plant Identification page for links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos of plants for identification.
Giliastrum insigne (Marked gilia) Here are more photos from Polyploid.net taken on Dog Canyon Trail in Big Bend National Park.
Giliastrum incisum (Split-leaf gilia) Here are more photos from Southwest Environmental Information Network.
Giliastrum acerosum (Bluebowls) Here are more photos from Southwest Environmental Information Network.
Nemastylis tenuis (Southwestern pleatleaf) Here are more photos from Southwest Environmental Information Network and from Arizona Biodiversity Image Gallery.
Linum lewisii var. lewisii (Blue flax) Here are more photos from California Academy of Sciences.
Bouchea linifolia (Flaxleaf bouchea) Here are more photos from Southwest Environmental Information Network.
Bonamia ovalifolia (Bigpod lady's nightcap) Here are photos from Angelo State University and from Houston Advanced Research Center Gulf Coast Portal.
Omphalodes aliena (Mexican navelwort) Here are photos from the TAMU Repository of Vascular Plant Photos.
Ruellia nudiflora (Violet ruellia) Here are more photos from University of Texas School of Biological Sciences' Archive of Central Texas Plants.
Sisyrinchium demissum (Stiff blue-eyed grass) Here are more photos from Western New Mexico University and Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers.
Solanum triquetrum (Texas nightshade) Here are more photos from University of Texas School of Biological Sciences' Archive of Central Texas Plants.
Below are photos from our Image Gallery of some of the plants above.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Information about unknown house plant in Cleburne, TX
May 29, 2009 - Please,I have a green houseplant w/5-6 inch wide heartshaped leaves that grows small,green fingerling pods. Very long,zig-zaggy stems on this plant. No florist/gardener here can identify.Pretty and ge...
view the full question and answer
Identification of Spaeralcea sp. Globe Mallow
March 31, 2008 - Let's do it again....my computer had some "issues" and I lost your answer....
I purchased a mallow from the WFC about two years ago...I was told at the time they had not yet identified the plant...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
March 09, 2009 - green stemmed,whorled leaf,compound leaf, ovate shaped, hairy stemmed thing is fastly taking over my sandy rocked based soil cactus garden. what could it be? i bought my garden in florida
view the full question and answer
Identity of shrubs in Austin neighborhood
September 30, 2013 - I have run across two beautiful bushes in our neighborhood. They have flowering branches that daisy-chain out like a fountain. No one can tell me what they are. They are located in front and on the ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of tiny blue flower blooming in February
March 18, 2013 - There is a very small four petal flower that appears near the end of Winter. (This year they appeared in late Feb).
These little flowers are a "Light Blueish" hue. They are around a quarter inch ac...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |