Great Basin Baby-blue-eyes, Basin Nemophila, Great Basin Nemophila, Short-flowered Nemophila: Nemophila breviflora

The photo above shows a close-up of the flower of Great Basin nemophila as seen at the Ray Ridge Viewpoint in the Umatilla National Forest of southeastern Washington........June 25, 2007. Note that the whitish petals are shorter than the calyx lobes.

Characteristics:

Great Basin nemophila is a loosely erect, ascending, or somewhat prostrate plant with branched stems from 10-30 cm long. The weak stems are angled with alternate leaves. The stems are also covered with fine, short, backward prickles. The leaves are1-3 cm long, thin with a narrow central lobe or blade and 2 pairs of narrow, spreading lateral lobes. The edge of the blades and petioles are lined with tiny hairs.

The flower stems arise off of the stem opposite the leaves. The calyx lobes are broadly lanceolate, 2-3 mm long and covered with tiny, bristly hairs along their edges. The flowers are tiny with lavender to whitish corollas barely 2 mm long.

Great Basin nemophila may be found on moist wooded slopes, in thickets, or occasionally in open places from the foothills to moderate elevation in the mountains.

Great Basin nemophila may be found from southern British Columbia south along the eastern side of the Cascades Mts. to northern California and east to Montana and Colorado.

The photo at left shows a close-up of the developing fruits of Great Basin nemophila as seen at the Ray Ridge Viewpoint in the Umatilla National Forest of southeastern Washington.........June 25, 2007. Note the numerous long hairs at the margins of the leaves and calyx lobes. The photo at right shows the leaves and developing fruits as seen on BLM lands along Box Canyon Road about one-third of a mile east of the gated trailhead which is located on the eastern edge of one of the sections of the Simcoe Mountains Unit of the Klickitat Wildlife Area.....May 22, 2022.

The photos above show close-up views of the flowers and leaf of Great Basin nemophila as seen in oak woods alongside Agency Creek at Fort Simcoe State Park about seven miles to the southwest of White Swan, WA..........April 5, 2008.

Great Basin nemophila as seen blooming along the Round Mountain South Trail #805 near Wildhorse Springs on the south side of Round Mt., Ochoco National Forest.........May 28, 2016.