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Beckers, Eric

Eritrichium nanum

Eritrichium nanum (Vill.) Schrad. ex Gaudin

Arctic Alpine Forget-me-not, Alpine Forget-me-not

Boraginaceae (Borage Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: erna

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

A low, cushion-like plant with deep blue flowers just above the tufted leaves.
Flowers: corolla funnel-shaped, about 1/4" (6 mm) wide, 5-lobed, with 5 yellow pads around the opening to the narrow tube.

The genus name comes from the Greek erion ("wool") and trichos ("hair"), referring to the hairs on the plants, which on Howard's Alpine Forget-me-not (E. howardii) of western Montana and northern Wyoming are so dense they usually hide.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Mat-forming, up to about 4 inches tall.
Fruit: Nutlets.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Blue
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , CO , ID , MT , NM , OR , UT , WA , WY
Native Distribution: Northern New Mexico to western Montana and northeastern Oregon; north to Alaska.
Native Habitat: Open rocky places high in the mountains.

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Web Reference

Webref 61 - Alaska Wildflowers (2020)
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Eritrichium nanum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Eritrichium nanum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Eritrichium nanum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-29
Research By: TWC Staff

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