Wildflowers

“Trichostema Arizonicum / Arizona Bluecurls” by James Dick


October 29, 2016

“Trichostema Arizonicum / Arizona Bluecurls “

On a recent trip to Madera Canyon I noticed one of the finest examples of translucent vascularity in a plant species. No wonder it’s related to the herbal Lamiaceae – Mint family “Arizona Blue Curls”. Like a new dollar bill clean off the press with it’s minty freshness and defined yet transparent clear lines, I wanted to depict it using my palette knife while combining the impressionism of nature’s blurred lines when the wind blows. This image is a part of this flower painting which can also be seen on my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

It is a perennial plant in the mint family Lamiaceae native to the Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas) and northwestern Mexico. Found in Madera Canyon, it has striking curling flowers. The graceful stamens that curl around to dab pollen on the backs of insect pollinators.

Duration: Perennial
Growth Habit: Subshrub
Arizona Native Status: Native
Habitat: Upland, Mountain (lower elevation)
Flower Color: Bicolored violet-blue and white
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall. wildflower blooms from July to October.
Height: To 2 feet (61 cm) tall

The flowers are in loose, axillary clusters. The individual flowers have 5 lobes and an arc of 4 curling stamens that are up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The lowest flower lobe is dark violet-blue with ruffled edges, while the other 4 lobes are white. The leaves are small, green, opposite, and oblong to ovate in shape.


Dick James