Identification
This native annual or short-lived perennial has many, branched creeping stems often spreading to form mats up to 2 feet in diameter (A,E). Opposite, hairy, oval to lance-shaped leaves are irregularly divided, often into 3 lobes (A,D). Ascending or upright stems 1-8 inches long bear the flower spikes and hairy, pointed leaf-like bracts (B,C). The tiny blue to purple, 5-petaled flowers are less than 1/8th inch wide (B).
Grows along roadsides and in waste areas, flowering from May through September. Uncommon along roadsides, trails and in disturbed areas at Neale Woods and Fontenelle Forest.
Look for a sprawling plant with divided leaves and flowering stem with tiny blue flowers and pointed, leaf-like bracts.
Its sprawling habit and pointed bracts are the origin for the alternate common names, Long-Bracted, Big-Bracted and Creeping Vervain.
The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Neal Ratzlaff.