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.

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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

Wildflowers of summer (5)

Forget-me-not ~ Myosotis scorpioides

Wooly Groundsel ~ Packera cana

Harebell, Bluebell Bellflower, Bluebell-of-Scotland ~ Campanula rotundifolia

Prairie Smoke seed head

Flying flowers ~ Western Checkerspots ~ Euphydryas chalcedona

Wildflowers of spring (10)

Prairie Smoke ~ Geum triflorum 6/1

Great Polemonium, Royal Jacob’s-ladder, Salmon Polemonium ~ Polemonium carneum 6/1

Meadow Hawkweed ~ Hieracium caespitosum 6/2

American Vetch ~ Vicia americana 6/2

Prickly Rose ~ Rosa acicularis 6/2

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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