# western stoneseed (*Lithospermum ruderale*) The western stoneseed is a special plant with bright yellow flowers. It grows in sunny places and has seeds that can be used to make a natural dye! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![western stoneseed](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lithospermum_ruderale_4162.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lithospermum_ruderale_4162.JPG) ## Appearance The western stoneseed has hairy stems and narrow, fuzzy leaves. It produces clusters of small, trumpet-shaped flowers that range from greenish-yellow to bright yellow. Its seeds are hard, smooth, and gray-brown, resembling tiny pebbles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Boraginales - **Family:** Boraginaceae - **Genus:** Lithospermum ## Interesting facts - Its super smooth seeds feel like tiny, polished stones, giving the plant its name! - Native Americans once used parts of this tough plant for traditional medicines. - Some people call it "lemonweed" because its crushed leaves have a slightly citrusy scent! - The western stoneseed's little flowers actually change color as they mature! ## Special abilities - **Super-Hard Seeds:** Western stoneseed has extremely hard, stony seeds that can survive dry spells, waiting years for perfect conditions to sprout! - **Fuzzy Moisture Trapper:** Western stoneseed has fuzzy leaves that help trap moisture and reduce water loss, essential for its dry habitats. - **Deep Water Hunter:** Western stoneseed can grow a long taproot, reaching deep into the soil to find water during droughts. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring-early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — its small yellow flowers attract these busy insects - **Pollinates:** Vosnesensky's bumblebee (*Bombus vosnesenskii*) — a native bumblebee species visits its blooms - **Eaten by:** [mule deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — mule deer browse on its leaves and stems ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify western stoneseed? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is western stoneseed? 10-60 cm ### How wide does western stoneseed spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on western stoneseed? 0.5-1 cm ### When does western stoneseed bloom? Spring-early summer ### Is western stoneseed edible? No ### Is western stoneseed toxic? Mild ### What is western stoneseed's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Murie Ranch Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murie-ranch-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [Butte-Anaconda Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/butte-anaconda-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Fort Yellowstone](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-yellowstone) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Okanagan Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/okanagan-lake-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [White Lake Grasslands Protected Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/white-lake-grasslands-protected-area) — British Columbia, CA · Nature Reserve [View all places to see western stoneseed](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/western-stoneseed) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Western Stoneseed: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-stoneseed)