Onosmodium decipiens J. Allison - Marbleseed, Gromwell
Family - Boraginaceae
Stems:
Leaves:
Inflorescence:
N/A
Flowers:
Calyx and corolla.
Flowering - April - June.
Habitat - Rocky woods and glades; on basic soils.
Origin - Native to North America.
Other information - This species is one of the recently discovered and newly named plants found at the Bibb County Glades. It is locally abundant on the glades during its growing season but dries quickly in the heat of the summer. The plant is easy to identify becasue of its habitat, hirsute stems, scorpoid cymes, and bright white seeds. The seeds of many plants in the Boraginaceae are bright white, however.
The genus name Onosmodium is given becasue of the plants similarity to another genus - Onosma. Onosma is Greek for "the smell of an ass" and apparently that genus has a foul odor.
The species epithet decipiens means "deceptive, deceiving" becasue it was not apparent the plant was a new species when it was first discovered.
Alabama Distribution:
Photographs taken at Bibb County Glades, AL., 5-1-05.