Hydrophyllum capitatum

Hydrophyllum capitatum, is a species of waterleaf known by the common name ballhead waterleaf. It is native to Western North America from British Columbia to Utah.

The white to blue flowers, borne in a tight spherical cluster, have five hairy calyx lobes and five exerted stamens.

Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum (Wenas Wildlife Area, Washington)

Hydrophyllum capitatum
Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii (Tom McCall Preserve, Oregon)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Boraginales
Family:	Boraginaceae
Genus:	Hydrophyllum
Species:	H. capitatum
Binomial name
Hydrophyllum capitatum Douglas ex Benth.

Distribution

Hydrophyllum capitatum naturally occurs in the western region of the United States (California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) as well as Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.[1]

Habitat and ecology

Hydrophyllum capitatum grows in areas that are rather barren and dry (though seasonally moist) to shady environments in fine or medium textured soil. This plant tends to grow in open woodlands and slopes. It is salinity intolerant and lives in an environment that ranges in pH from 6.4 to 7.8. The ballhead waterleaf is a perennial plant adapted to a precipitation zone that ranges from 16 to 30 inches/yr and a minimum temperature of -28 Fahrenheit.[1][2]

Morphology

Individuals of this species are 10–40 cm tall, hairy, erect herbs with solitary or few stems that are attached to 10 inch deep fibrous roots. The leaves are green and alternately arranged into 7 to 11 pinnately divided entire leaflets. The blades of the leaves are about 10 cm wide and 15 cm long.[3] The flowers feature partial dichotomous branching and lay closer to the ground below the leaves (Hydrophyllum capitatum var. capitatum).[4] However, a dwarf form of this plant occurs in northern Oregon and southern Washington where the flower heads are on long stalks above the leaves (Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii).[5]

Flowers and fruit

Flowers of Hydrophyllum capitatum, has whitish to purplish blue-coiled 5 to 9 cm bell-shaped corollas. Each flower also has 5 hairy calyx lobes. There are 5 long stamens per flower with anthers 0.6 to 1.3 mm long. The flowers bloom from March to July and obtain their purple color during this season.[5] The fruit of the ballhead waterleaf are capsules with 1 to 3 seeds each.

Usage

Food

The Indians and settlers cooked the leaves and the roots of plants belonging to the genus Hydrophyllum, which includes the ballhead waterleaf, for greens.[5]

References

1. "USDA Plants". Retrieved 7 July 2011.
2. Fertig, Walter. "Plant of the Week: Hydrophyllum capitatum". Retrieved 2 June 2019.
3. "Montana Plant Life". Retrieved 7 July 2011.
4. Tuason, Thayne. "CWNP Plant Gallery". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
5. "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center". Retrieved 7 July 2011.