Mertensia maritima
Mertensia maritima is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by the common names oysterleaf, oysterplant or sea bluebells.
| Mertensia maritima | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Mertensia |
| Species: | M. maritima |
| Binomial name | |
| Mertensia maritima | |
It grows on gravel ground in the Northern hemisphere, reaching north to the northern parts of Canada, Greenland and Svalbard.
It is a perennial herb producing a stem approaching 50 centimeters in maximum length. The inflorescence forms a cluster of flowers which are first reddish, and later bright blue. It is found in Shetland where it is called "oysterplant" because the leaves taste of oyster.[1][2]
References
- Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "østersurt". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
- "Plants Profile". United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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