''Hydrophyllum capitatum'', is a species of waterleaf known by the common name ballhead waterleaf. It is native to Western North America from British Columbia to Utah.
Description
Individuals of this species are tall, hairy, erect herbs with solitary or few stems that are attached to fibrous roots running deep. The leaves are green and alternately arranged into 7 to 11
pinnate
Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and in ...
ly divided entire leaflets. The blades of the
leaves
A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are about 10 cm wide and 15 cm long.
The flowers feature partial
dichotomous branching and lay closer to the ground below the leaves (''Hydrophyllum capitatum'' var. ''capitatum'').
However, a dwarf form of this plant occurs in northern Oregon and southern Washington where the flower heads are on long stalks above the leaves (''Hydrophyllum capitatum'' var. ''thompsonii'').
Flowers of ''Hydrophyllum capitatum'', has whitish to purplish blue-coiled 5 to 9 cm bell-shaped
corollas. Each flower also has 5 hairy
calyx lobes. There are 5 long stamens per flower with anthers 0.6 to 1.3 millimeters long. The flowers bloom from March to July and obtain their purple color during this season.
The fruit of the ballhead waterleaf are capsules with 1 to 3 seeds each.
Distribution and habitat
''Hydrophyllum capitatum'' naturally occurs in Alberta and British Columbia in Canada, as well as the western region of the United States (California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming).
''Hydrophyllum capitatum'' grows in areas that are rather barren and dry (though seasonally moist) to shady environments in fine or medium textured soil. This plant tends to grow in open woodlands and slopes,
ranging from high plains to subalpine meadows.
It is salinity intolerant and lives in an environment that ranges in pH from 6.4 to 7.8. The ballhead waterleaf is a perennial plant adapted to a precipitation zone that ranges from 16 to 30 inches/yr and a minimum temperature of -28 Fahrenheit.
Uses
Indigenous peoples and settlers cooked the leaves and the roots of plants belonging to the genus ''Hydrophyllum'', which includes the ballhead waterleaf, for greens.
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References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q5955310
capitatum
Flora of the Western United States
Flora of Western Canada
Flora without expected TNC conservation status