Polemoniaceae (Phlox Family)

Foothills. Openings, woodlands. Spring.
Prater Ridge Trail, Mesa Verde National Park, May 1, 2006.

This tiny work of art is an early spring bloomer found in scattered patches in moist clearings and in Sagebrush and Oaks.  It frequently grows in the company of Collinsia parviflora (Blue-Eyed Mary).  Microsteris gracilis is often much easier to spot by its red basal leaves than by its very tiny white flowers.  From the height of a human beings eyes, the basal leaves might be taken for berries.

The plant was grown in England from seeds collected by David Douglas (of Douglas Fir fame) near "the banks of the Spoken River, and on high grounds near the Flathead River" (Quote from Intermountain Flora).  In 1829 William Jackson Hooker named the plant Gilia gracilis and it has gone through numerous genus and species name changes since then.  Edward Greene gave the presently accepted genus and species name in 1898.  "Microsteris" is Greek for "small stem" and "gracilis" is Latin for "slender".

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Microsteris gracilis