The Blue-eyed Marys of the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington
Maiden Blue-eyed Mary, Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary

Collinsia parviflora

Synonyms: Antirrhinum tenellum, Collinsia grandiflora var. pusilla, Collinsia tenella

Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary, Maiden Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora (Synonym: Collinsia grandiflora var. pusilla)
The photo above shows a close-up view of the axillary flower of small-flowered blue-eyed mary as seen along FS Rd 82 on Mt. Adams at an approximate elevation of 2550'................May 7, 2005. Note how the corolla is oriented at approximately a 45-50 degree angle in relation to the axis of the calyx.
Flower of Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary, Maiden Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora (Synonym: Collinsia grandiflora var. pusilla) The photo at right shows a close-up view of the axillary flower of small-flowered blue-eyed mary as seen along FS Rd 82 on Mt. Adams at an approximate elevation of 2550'................May 7, 2005. Note how the corolla is oriented at approximately a 45-50 degree angle in relation to the axis of the calyx.
Characteristics:

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary is an upright to spreading and lax annual wildflower ranging from 5 to 40 cm in height or length. The stems are simple or unbranched and covered with tiny hairs (See the minute, shiny hairs on the stem in the photo at right.)

The lower stem leaves are short-petiolate and spatulate or rounded in shape with entire margins. The lower leaves typically are shed quickly. The mid and upper stem leaves have reduced petioles or are sessile and narrowly elliptic, oblong, or linear in shape. The upper leaves also may appear whorled. The upper leaves are up to 5 cm long and up to 12 mm wide.

The inflorescence consists of one to several flowers in the axils of the upper leaves. The flowers are strongly bilabiate or two-lipped with two larger upper lobes (not completely separated or cleft) and three smaller lower lobes with the middle lobe folded onto itself like a keel (as in peas). The calyx is 3-6 mm long with the 5 acute lobes longer than the tube. The corolla is 4-7 mm long and is blue with a white upper lip. The corolla tube is noticeably bent near the base and bends over the lower side of the calyx at an oblique angle. The seed capsule is ellipsoid, shorter than the calyx, and 3-5 mm long and 2-3.5 mm wide (See photos.).

Habitat:

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary is found on seasonally moist soils from grasslands to mossy, rock-covered slopes, and along shady forest edges. It is often found along the disturbed margins of roadways as viewed by the photos on this page.

Range:

Small-flowered blue-eyed mary may be found over much of western North America. It may be found from the Alaskan panhandle south to California and east to Colorado, Michigan and Ontario.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4300' from Troutdale, OR east past Biggs Junction, OR.

Sideview of the calyx and corolla of Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary, Maiden Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora (Synonym: Collinsia grandiflora var. pusilla)

A close-up sideview of the flower of small-flowered blue-eyed mary as seen at Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.................April 9, 2009. Note how the corolla tube is bent at nearly a right angle to the calyx.

Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary, Maiden Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora (Synonym: Collinsia grandiflora var. pusilla)

The photo above shows small-flowered blue-eyed mary as seen in the Columbia Hills of the Columbia River Gorge.......................April 11, 2008.

Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary, Maiden Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora (Synonym: Collinsia grandiflora var. pusilla)

An early blooming small-flowered blue-eyed Mary as seen in bunchgrass prairie on WDFW land in Swale Canyon in Klickitat County, WA.................March 18, 2010.
Paul Slichter