Taxon Details

Mertensia bella

Oregon bluebells

View Report Copy Link Calflora eFlora CCH CalPhotos iNaturalist

Dan Post (1997)

Taxon Summary:

Mertensia bella, commonly known as Oregon bluebells, is a perennial herb in the Boraginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Meadows and seeps, and Upper montane coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 1500 to 2000 meters. Mertensia bella is ranked 2B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Mertensia bella Piper
Common Name: Oregon bluebells
Family:	Boraginaceae
Element Code:	PDBOR0N040
USDA Plants Symbol:	MEBE
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G4
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1994-01-01
Date Edited:	2021-06-03

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial herb

Blooming Period: May-Jul

Elevation:
1500 - 2000 meters
4920 - 6560 feet

General Habitats:

Meadows and seeps
Upper montane coniferous forest

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Disturbed areas (often)
Mesic
Openings (often)

Notes

Notes: Sensitive in ID, and on review list in OR. See Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 31:76 (1918) for original description.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	0
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	0	%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					2
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	0	0	0	0	2

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	2
Recent <=20 Years	0

Presence:
Presumed Extant	2
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA), Idaho (ID), Montana (MT), Oregon (OR)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Siskiyou (SIS)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Broken Rib Mtn. (4112386), Polar Bear Mtn. (4112385)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory