Mertensia bella
Oregon lungwort, Oregon Lungwort
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Family: Boraginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 2B.2
Mertensia bella (Oregon lungwort) is a native California herb in the Boraginaceae family, recognized by distinctive wide-bell-shaped flowers with rudimentary tube.
Oregon lungwort is a rare (CNPS 2B.2) California native perennial found in the northwestern Klamath Ranges in Siskiyou County, specifically in wet meadows and springs at elevations of 1,500 to 1,800 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces blue to purple flowers in delicate, open raceme-like clusters. Growing 20 to 50 centimeters tall with a single slender stem emerging from a spherical tuber-like root, it has an elegant, unbranded growth habit. Its leaves are distinctively veined, with cauline leaves that are petioled and strigose on the upper surface, creating a soft textural appearance. The flower's wide bell-shaped corolla, measuring 6 to 10 millimeters long, features a rudimentary tube shorter than the calyx, giving the plant a delicate and graceful character.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; distinctive wide-bell-shaped flowers with rudimentary tube
Habitat and range
Habitat: Wet meadows, springs, under taller plants
Elevation: 1500-1800 m
Outside California: to southwestern Oregon, northern Idaho, northwestern Montana
Bloom period
Mertensia bella blooms May-Jul.
Conservation status
CNPS 2B.2
How to tell it apart
vs Hackelia: Mertensia has bell-shaped flowers and smooth seeds; Hackelia has flat flowers and barbed seeds.; vs Penstemon: Mertensia flowers are cylindrical bells; Penstemon flowers are clearly 2-lipped tubes.; vs Iochroma: Mertensia is herbaceous mountain native; Iochroma is woody tropical shrub with larger flowers.; vs Billardiera: Mertensia has bell-shaped borage flowers; Billardiera is a climbing vine with twisted petals.; vs Echium: Mertensia has symmetrical bell flowers; Echium has distinctly lopsided tubular flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mertensia bella native to California?
Yes. Mertensia bella is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Mertensia bella bloom?
Mertensia bella blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Mertensia bella belong to?
Mertensia bella is in the Boraginaceae family, genus Mertensia.
Is Mertensia bella rare or endangered?
Mertensia bella carries California Rare Plant Rank 2B.2, state rank S1.
What habitat does Mertensia bella grow in?
Mertensia bella grows in Wet meadows, springs, under taller plants.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Mertensia ciliata var. stomatechoides — Streamside bluebell
- Mertensia cusickii — Toiyabe bluebells
- Mertensia longiflora — Long bluebells
- Mertensia oblongifolia — Sagebrush bluebell
- Mertensia oblongifolia var. amoena — Beautiful sagebrush bluebells
- Mertensia oblongifolia var. nevadensis — Sagebrush bluebells
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.