Minnesota Wildflowers


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Lithospermum caroliniense (Carolina Puccoon)

Plant Info
Also known as: Hairy Puccoon, Carolina Gromwell
Genus:Lithospermum
Family:Boraginaceae (Borage)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:native
Habitat:part shade, sun; dry; sandy prairies, open woods
Bloom season:May - July
Plant height:6 to 24 inches
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: 5-petals tubular flat

[photo of flowers] Flowers are in a (more or less) flat cluster at the top of the plant. Individual flowers are orange-yellow, 1 inch across, and tubular with 5 rounded petal-like lobes that flare out at the end. The edges of the lobes may be a little ruffled or crinkled. The stamens are hidden inside the tube. The bracts at the base of the tube are narrow, about ½ inch long and very hairy. Plants may be branched near the top, with a cluster at the end of each branch.

Leaves and stem: alternate simple

[photo of leaves] Leaves are narrow, up to 1½ inches long and ¼ inch wide, bluntly pointed at the tip, with no leaf stem. The texture is slightly rough from short stiff hairs. The main stem is sparsely to densely covered in short bristly hairs. One plant has up to 12 stems; it looks like it grows in a clump

Notes:

Carolina Puccoon is similar to Hoary Puccoon (Lithospermum canescens), but Hoary Puccoon has ½ inch flowers, shorter bracts, and longer, softer hairs on the stem.

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Map of native plant purveyors in the upper midwest

More photos

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN May 2008

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?

Posted by: Deb in Houston County - Sheldon Valley
on: 2010-05-26 18:53:36

I was visiting my parents on County Rd 10 in Sheldon Valley (Houston County, MN) over the weekend. I was exploring the top of one of the hills on their farm & found what I believe are Carolina Puccoon plants. They were near the top of the hill, on the west side, on a dry, steep, slightly shaded, rocky slope. I have never seen these flowers before. Are they common to MN? I also spotted what I believe are Yellow Star Grass. Again, I've never seen either of these flowers before.

Posted by: K. Chayka
on: 2010-05-27 11:51:24

The puccoons are dry prairie plants that do well in full sun to part shade, sandy to rocky soil so the habitat sounds perfect. Hoary puccoon is the more common species and is found in almost every county in MN. Carolina puccoon is mostly in east-central to southeast counties, including Houston. You might have seen either one, or even both.

Yellow star grass like a similar habitat so you probably did see that as well. These should all be blooming now.

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