Mertensia maritima

Mertensia maritima 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

  1. Godal, Anne Marit (ed.). "østersurt". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Norsk nettleksikon. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  2. "Plants Profile". United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).


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