Asperugo procumbens

German madwort

Family: Boraginaceae · Type: annual · Not Native

German madwort is a naturalized annual found in the Mojave Plains in disturbed areas at elevations of 1,000 to 1,500 meters. Flowering from April to July, this plant produces blue-violet flowers small and delicate with a funnel-shaped appearance. Growing with prostrate to weakly decumbent stems 30 to 80 centimeters long, it spreads across the ground with numerous branching stems that are distinctly angled. Its leaves vary from opposite at the base to alternate higher up the plant, with oblanceolate to elliptic blades 2 to 7 centimeters long that are notably rough or scabrous to the touch. The fruit consists of 2 to 4 dark, shiny nutlets that are compressed and ovate, each roughly 2 to 3 millimeters long.

Habitat: Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Apr-Jul

Elevation: 1000-1500 m

Bioregions: MP

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.