#lithospermum

I’ve been hoping for a while now to order seed from somewhere that sells Hoary Paccoon but have had no luck finding any. 

Lithospermum canescens

is an early spring blooming glade/barren obligate, it’s not endemic to the interior lowland platues, but instead has a vast range and even gets into the short grass barrens and dune communities. It’s canescent foliage is perfectly adapted for sand blasting and for the harsh heat and lack of water of the summer barren landscapes. When not much else is out in Ohio it sticks out like a sore thumb, has some of the brightest orange/yellow flowers that really pop no madder how dreary the day is. When I say obligate, I mean they tend not to germinate unless their seeds have ample light doring their stratification period. So, more like obligate in situ, I’ve heard that they can be easily grown from seed in nursery with a calcareous medium. 

There is one beetle that require members of this group for survival and because of that it is a critical plant for the ecosystem.  “The larvae of a long-horned beetle, Hemierana marginata ardens, feeds on Lithospermum spp., probably by boring through the stems and/or roots” (Yanega, 1996). “Because the foliage of Hoary Puccoon contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, it can be considered more or less toxic to many herbivores.” -illinois flora

Cicindelidia rufiventris, the eastern red bellied tiger beetle, also may have linked obligate ecological connections to this species; but, not enough research has been done to confirm that for sure. 

Lithospermum caroliniense

Carolina puccoon, a much denser cluster of flowers are known at the top compared to hoary puccoon, the hairs are bristly with pointed bracts(sepals) with upright stiff hairs, these bracts are at the base of the floral tube, (gamopetalous tube).  It’s a much later bloomer than hoary puccoon blooming late june to mid summer. It usually forms dense colonies however, in this photo it does not seem to follow that characteristic as closely. I really also should mention that the bottom of the L. canescence leaves is densly pubescent where this species is sparsly pubescent. L. canescence has a bit more of a bicolor look due to this, its just dense pubescence(canescent). 

Lithospermum erythrorhizon: Boraginaceae family.

A Wonder Feedback from Mr Teddy - Lithospermum Ointment Healing Balm (紫云膏)

It is happy to hear from Mr Teddy that our Lithospermum Ointment Healing Balm is well treating his ezcema and dry skin condition.