Lithospermum virginianum L.

Virginia Marbleseed; Wild Job's Tears; Virginia False Gromwell

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Virginia Marbleseed is a native perennial in the Borage family (Boraginaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Virginia Marbleseed occurs in dry sandy pine or mixed pine/hardwood forests, in sand hills, in scrub oak woods, in rocky woods, and on limestone outcrops. It is a perennial from a stout woody tap root. Basal leaves form a rosette. One or more flowering stems arise from the rosettes. The flowering stems are from 1-3 feet in height. Leaves on the stems are alternate, sessile, and reduced in size. Leaves are elliptic to lanceolate or spatulate with entire margins. The leaves have fie prominent veins. Both the stems and leaves are densely pubescent. The hairs have a swollen base. Flowers are produced in leafy bracted helicoid cymes. The flowers are tubular and yellowish in color. The flowers have an inflated base and the style is strongly excerted. Flowers open from the base to the apex of the inflorescence. The fruit is a shiny white, pitted mericarp. The mericarps have a very thick seed coat and are difficult to germinate. Mature plants are difficult to transplant because of the large tap root.--A. Diamond

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Native

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