Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestium)
Photographed the Mistflower at the entrance to the Shady Oaks trail located at Circle B Bar Reserve in the City of Lakeland Polk County Florida U.S.A.
Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is an eye-catching wildflower known by many common names: Blue mistflower, Wild ageratum, Pink eupatorium, Hardy ageratum and Blue boneset. Found in riverine swamps, moist meadows and roadside ditches, its flowers give the appearance of a blue fog when blooming en masse. Flowers are very attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, moths and long-tongued bees.
Mistflower’s many branched stems that bear dense, flat clusters of disk florets that vary in color from bright blue to lavender to pinkish-white. Ray florets are absent. Long protruding stamens give the flower heads a fuzzy appearance. Light green linear bracts surround the flower base. Leaves are almost triangular in shape, with toothed margins and faintly pubescent surfaces. They are petiolate and oppositely arranged. Fruits are small achenes with tiny hairs that aid in wind distribution. Roots are rhizomatous.
The genus Conoclinium was once classified in the genus Eupatorium, but genetic analysis revealed differences that required reclassification to its own genus. The species epithet coelestinum is from the Latin caelistis (coelestis), meaning “celestial” or “heavenly.” It refers to the sky-blue color of the flowers.
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This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. The photos may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.
Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestium)
Photographed the Mistflower at the entrance to the Shady Oaks trail located at Circle B Bar Reserve in the City of Lakeland Polk County Florida U.S.A.
Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum) is an eye-catching wildflower known by many common names: Blue mistflower, Wild ageratum, Pink eupatorium, Hardy ageratum and Blue boneset. Found in riverine swamps, moist meadows and roadside ditches, its flowers give the appearance of a blue fog when blooming en masse. Flowers are very attractive to pollinators, especially butterflies, moths and long-tongued bees.
Mistflower’s many branched stems that bear dense, flat clusters of disk florets that vary in color from bright blue to lavender to pinkish-white. Ray florets are absent. Long protruding stamens give the flower heads a fuzzy appearance. Light green linear bracts surround the flower base. Leaves are almost triangular in shape, with toothed margins and faintly pubescent surfaces. They are petiolate and oppositely arranged. Fruits are small achenes with tiny hairs that aid in wind distribution. Roots are rhizomatous.
The genus Conoclinium was once classified in the genus Eupatorium, but genetic analysis revealed differences that required reclassification to its own genus. The species epithet coelestinum is from the Latin caelistis (coelestis), meaning “celestial” or “heavenly.” It refers to the sky-blue color of the flowers.
©Copyright Notice
This photograph and all those within my photostream are protected by copyright. The photos may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written permission.