Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Beardtongue

This was a new plant for us, seen when we botanized the absolutely beautiful rolling hills belonging to Raymond and Diana Nadeau on 11th June. This location is a short way west of Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump, way down south from Calgary, heading towards the US border. Always a thrill when one sees something new, no matter what it is : ) This plant is native and grows on dry, open grasslands and hillsides. The tube-shaped flowers are red to purple and have an enlarged, hairy throat. Sepals 5, petals 5, 5 stamens, four of which are fertile and the fifth is a hairy staminode. Blooms June-July. "Crested Beardtongue is included in Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre's (ANHIC) "tracking list" - plants that have elements of high priority because they are rare, endemic, disjunct, in peril or special in some other way." albertawilderness.ca/issues/wildlands/whaleback/features

Smooth Blue Beardtongue adds beautiful colour to hillsides here. Sometimes, you see a plant that has a lot more pink/purple, but this is a very blue one. It gets its name from the sterile stamen (staminode) which is covered in hairs.

This bright blue flower is brightening up the hillsides at the moment - so pretty.

Not sure if this is Slender Blue Beardtongue or Smooth Blue Beardtongue. Not sure of the butterfly, either, but I think it is a Gossamer-wing, a Blue.

There are 15 species of blue butterflies in Alberta. I'm not sure which one this is, especially as I can't see the underwing pattern. These tiny blue butterflies flit along close to the ground and it's always a joy to see them on my walks.

Also known as Shining Penstemon. A plant that is common in the southern third of the province.