Taxon Report

Mertensia oblongifolia (Nutt.) G. Don var. oblongifolia

sagebrush bluebells

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Mertensia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia, commonly known as sagebrush bluebells, is a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Great Basin scrub, Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps, and Subalpine coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1000 to 3000 meters. Mertensia oblongifolia var. oblongifolia is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Mertensia oblongifolia (Nutt.) G. Don var. oblongifolia
Common Name:	sagebrush bluebells
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0N0G2
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial herb
Blooming Period: Apr-Jul	Apr-Jul
Elevation:	1000-3000 (3280-9845)
General Habitats:	Great Basin scrub, Lower montane coniferous forest, Meadows and seeps, Subalpine coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Mesic (usually)
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Global Rank:	G5T5
State Rank:	S3
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	changed from 2.2 to 2B.2 on 2013-06-12

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	12
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	4
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	8

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Lassen (LAS), Modoc (MOD), Sierra (SIE)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Fort Bidwell (4112072), Independence Lake (3912043), Jess Valley (4112023), Mt. Bidwell (4112082), Payne Peak (4112053), Willow Ranch (4112083)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	2
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	9	75 %
Grazing	9	75%
Logging	1	8%

Notes



Known in CA only from the Warner and Sweetwater mountains. Threatened by grazing. See Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 24:123 (1937) for taxonomic treatment.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 25 October 2025].