Classification Hierarchy
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Tracheophyta
Superdivision Spermatophyta
Division Magnoliophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Subclass Asteridae
Order Lamiales
Family Boraginaceae
Genus Lithospermum
Species Lithospermum caroliniense
Hairy puccoon

Date: April 22, 2010. Location: Rochester cemetery (map)

BONAP, FNA, ITIS, USDA, VPI

Scientific Name: Lithospermum caroliniense (litho =stone, spermum = seed i.e. the seeds are hard as stone)

Common Name: Hairy puccoon (Hairy = white hair, puccoon was an indian word for any plant that could be used to make a colored dye).

Origin: Native

Notes: BONAP's North American Plant Atlas lists four species of Lithospermum in Iowa: L.canescens, L. caroliniense, L. incisum, and L. latifolium. All four species can be found in Iowa usually in prairie remnants and sandy open spaces.

Additional references: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Field Marks for Identification:

Flowers: April; orange/yellow.

Leaves:

Glossaries of botanical terms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

Hairy puccoon-1 Hairy puccoon-2 Hairy puccoon-3 Hairy puccoon-4 Hairy puccoon-5 Hairy puccoon-6 Hairy puccoon-7 Hairy puccoon-8 Hairy puccoon-9 Hairy puccoon-10 Hairy puccoon-11 Hairy puccoon-12 Hairy puccoon-13 Hairy puccoon-14 Hairy puccoon-15