Tomentose Amsonia (Woolly Amsonia)

Amsonia tomentosa

Family: Apocynaceae – Dogbane Family

Perennial herbs; 7.9” to 2' (2 to 6 dm) tall

Leaves: alternate; simple; 0.04” to 0.48” (1 to 12 mm) wide

Flowers: 5 bluish-white tube-shaped partly united petals borne in terminal clusters; 5 parted sepals; 5 stamens; bisexual; corolla tube is 0.28” to 0.48” (7 to 12 mm) long

Pollinators: other genera in this family are pollinated by moths and butterflies

Fruits: pair of follicles

Blooms in Arches National Park: April, May

Habitat in Arches National Park: desert shrub communities

Location seen: Cache Valley in Arches National Park; outside Arches National Park on Corona Arch trail

Other: The genus name, “Amsonia”, honors Dr. Charles Amson, an 18th century American physician from Virginia. The species name, “tomentosa”, means “covered with fine, matted hairs” referring to the wool-like covering created by many small, matted, intermingled hairs.

Most plants in this family have milky sap and many are poisonous.