Prairie Smoke

Prairie Smoke, Old Man’s whiskers ~ Geum triflorum

These are also sometimes called “Purple Avens” or “Old Man’s Whiskers”. The species name triflorum (three-flowered) comes from their usual cluster of three flowers. When they grow in groups, the “feathery” appearance of the fruits gives an impression of low-lying smoke.

Today’s flora & fauna

On today’s walk with the canine member of the family:

Prairie Smoke, Old Man’s Whiskers, Purple Avens, Geum triflorum

Field Chickweed, Cerastium arvense

Early blue violet, Viola adunca

Long-flower Bluebells, Mertensia longiflora

Bighorn Sheep, Ovis canadensis

Prairie Smoke

Prairie Smoke, Old Man’s Whiskers, Purple Avens, Geum triflorum, May 20

Fruits or seed heads of the Prairie Smoke, June 2008

Prairie Smoke

Prairie smoke, Old man’s whiskers, Purple avens, Geum triflorum; Rose family

These are blooming now at the east end of Dog Lake on the Flathead Indian Reservation. I found the color variation to be interesting (it’s not something I did with the photos). I will post photos later of the seed heads: they are quite interesting.

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Transformation

Back in May I posted some photos of the Prairie smoke (or Old-Man’s Whiskers) in bloom. They make quite a transformation when they go to seed.

Prairie smoke

There was to be no success the other day in my quest to find Sego lilies, presumably because they have not bloomed yet. An unexpected reward though was a very large area of Prairie smoke in bloom, many more than I have ever seen in one area. They are to me quite pretty as they bloom, but spectacular when they go to seed: I will try to remember to stop back and get a shot or two when they do.

Prairie smoke,
Old man’s whiskers,
Geum triflorum Pursh var. ciliatum