hoary puccoon, Lithospermum canescens

Remember hairy puccoon? Hoary is a cousin. A little less hairy, and slightly smaller. The name 'puccoon' is derived from an Indian word for plants that provide dye. The plant, particularly the root, yields a red-purple color. The plants were also used medicinally. The hard white seeds were beads. Hoary grows in open or partly shaded sandy soil in AL, AR, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WI, WV, MB, ON, and SK. Lenawee Co MI, 5/21/11.