Mertensia maritima
| Mertensia maritima | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Mertensia |
| Species: | M. maritima
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mertensia maritima | |
Mertensia maritima a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names oysterleaf, oysterplant or sea bluebells.
It grows on gravel ground in the Northern hemisphere, reaching north to the northern parts of Canada, Greenland and Svalbard.
It is a perennial herb producing a stem approaching 50 centimeters in maximum length. The inflorescence forms a cluster of flowers which are first reddish, and later bright blue. It is found in Shetland where it is called "oysterplant" because the leaves taste of oyster.[1][2]
References
- ^ Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "østersurt". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- ^ "Plants Profile". United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
External links
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