Polemonium pulcherrimum, June 17, 2021
Common & scientific name
Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium pulcherrimum
Family
Phlox, Polemoniaceae
Location
Ptarmigan Creek, 10,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
“Pulcherrimum” means “very beautiful.” Indeed. These low-lying, soft-blue, light-purple flowers light up the brown understories of dry lodgepole and spruce/fir forests. And like their alpine cousin, P. viscosum, Sky pilot, they emit a less-than-beautiful skunk-like odor in the wind. Enjoy the paradox!