Single Record

Participant Info

Species
Mertensia ovata var. caelestina] [Mertensia caelestina] [Mertensia viridis var. caelestina] [Mertensia lanceolata var. caelestina]
Family
Boraginaceae
CommonName
ovate bluebells
Presence
yes
Status
native
EarliestDate
2022
LatestDate
2022
Ecosystem
tundra
Geobotanical
Culebras
Counties
Costilla
Passes
WildlifePreserves
Other Localities
Comments
NEED IN SITU PHOTOS. There is only one indication that Mertensia ovata var. caelestina may be presented in the Watershed, a reference to Costilla Co and the Sangre de Cristos mountains in Ackerfield (2022), with no vouchers in SEINet. She may be referring to Hogan and Elliot (2022), who note that "Mertensia ovata" is "not uncommon at higher elevations in the Sangres," that is, in the North Cristos. Their specimens are filed with M. lanceolata at the University of Colorado herbarium (p. 207). Note that Allred et al. (2020) record M. ovata var. caelestina in the bordering counties of Rio Arriba, Taos, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. BONAP does not accept M. ovata as a legitimate species, but POWO does. This alpine bluebells has been confused with M. lanceolata, and herbarium records may miss the species in the Watershed.