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Skyrocket

Ipomopsis aggregata

Description:

“Ipomopsis aggregata” has characteristic red, trumpet-shaped flowers and basal leaves stemming from a single erect stem. Depending on elevation, height can range from 12 inches, in Rocky Mountain alpine areas, to over 5 feet, in areas of southern Texas. Trumpet flowers can range from white, red, orange-red, and pink. Yellow flowers have been reported for plant but are extremely rare. Fernlike leaves are low to the ground, helping encourage warmth in colder areas, and have silver specks and a fine white pubescence. A well known delicacy in nature, “Ipomopsis aggregata” is well adapted to herbivory, as it can regrow multiple flowering stalks once lost. Although herbivory initially reduces seed and fruit count of the plant, intermediate herbivory and its stimulating factors could lead to the plant growing larger over time. Elk and mule deer are common herbivores on “Ipomopsis aggregata”

Notes:

Ipomopsis aggregata is pollinated most commonly by long-tongued moths and hummingbirds, although others can be seen. Common names include scarlet gilia, scarlet trumpet, and skyrocket. In some areas it is also called honeysuckle, owing to the shape of the flower and the droplet of nectar that can be enjoyed by picking off the flower and sucking it out of the basal end.

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2 Comments

Dan Doucette
Dan Doucette 10 years ago

Beautiful flowers Courtney. I would lead with the second photo if I were you. Have you tried to suck out the nectar?

nature.mummy
nature.mummy 11 years ago

Beautiful

CourtneyJaeger
Spotted by
CourtneyJaeger

Washington, USA

Spotted on Jun 24, 2012
Submitted on Aug 25, 2012

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