Flower ID: IMG_0661.JPG-06-06-2017 Flower name (scientific): Lithospermum canescens Lehmann PY: 1818. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) lith-o-SPER-mum kan-ESS-senz Flower name (common): Hoary Puccoon Family name (common): Borage (Forget-me-not) Family name (scientific): Boraginaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From the Greek lethos, for stone, and sperma, for seed. Refers to the appearance of the seeds as stone-like. Specific epithet: From the Latin cnesco, for turing hoary white; with hairs off-white, referring to the small white hairs on the plant. Common name origin: From the soft white hairs on the stem and leaves, and puccoon comes from the Virginia Algonquian poughkone, a plant whose roots yield a red dye. Flower description: Size: 0.3 to 0.5 inches (0.8 to 1.3 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: orange-yellow Other: flower arrangement, Cluster-cyme Plant description: Erect Size: 4 to 18 inches (10 to 46 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves up to 6 cm long and 12 mm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oblong or elliptic (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Prairies, woods, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun or part shade, dry to moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Lithospermum caroliniense (Carolina Puccoon) is similar. L. caroliniense has larger flowers about 13 to 25 mm wide, is a somewhat taller plant (typically 15 to around 60 cm tall), and has leaves covered in short stiff hairs giving a rough feel to the surface and has faint lateral veins, whereas Lithospermum canescens has flowers about 8 to 13 mm wide, is around 10 to 46 cm tall, and has leaves with a sparse to dense covering of hairs with a soft feel and without noticeable lateral veins. Ethnobotany: The Menominee supposedly value the ripened white seeds of this plant as a sacred bead (Smith, p. 80, 1923). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, DC, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV) In Canada: (MB, ON, SK) References: Synonym(s): Basionym: Batschia canescens Michx. in Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 130 (1803). Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na