Hydrophyllum Capitatum, Ballhead Waterleaf

Hydrophyllum capitatum is an easily identified species since the inflorescence is held well below the leaves, in a tight cluster, at the top of a spreading-hairy stalk up to 2 inches tall. Individual flowers are attached by pedicels less than a quarter of an inch long, lengthening and becoming recurved during the fruiting stage. Flowers have a hairy, bell-shaped, five lobed calyx, and a pale purple, five-lobed corolla, the lobes of which are about twice as long (a third of an inch). The style and anthers are exserted.

Relatively large leaves grow from the base, on long, short-hairy stalks. The blades are divided into 5, 7 or 9 leaflets, some partly lobed; the lobes terminate in a short spike. Leaflets have a prominent midvein. The blades and petioles of the leaves are similar in length, up to 8 inches. Most plants are var capitatum; the less common var alpinum is a high elevation variety with shorter leaves and flower stalks.