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Common Fiddleneck, Menzie's Fiddleneck, Rancher's Fiddleneck - Amsinckia menziesii


Family: Boraginaceae - Borage family Genus Common Name: Fiddleneck Native Status: NativeDicot Annual Herb
Amsinckia menziesii - Common Fiddleneck, Menzie's Fiddleneck, Rancher's Fiddleneck. There are 10 species in the Amsinckia (Fiddleneck) genus in the United States, most of which are western species. Amsinckia menziesii, while widespread in the western half of the U.S., is also found in a number of states in the mid-west and east. There are two varieties, and var. intermedia - Common Fiddleneck - is the more widely distributed and commonly found one. While this is a plant native to the United States, it is probably introduced in Alaska, Hawaii.

This is considered a weed by ranchers because cattle won't eat it and it can crowd out other forage plants.

Found in:
AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, HI, ID, IL, MA, ME, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, NY, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA, WY

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Amsinckia menziesii

Distribution of Amsinckia menziesii in the United States and Canada:
USDA Map temporarily unavailable.
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2017. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 16 Jan 2025). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.

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Site: Boise Foothills, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-07Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
The Fiddleneck common name comes from the helicoid cluster of blossoms which unfurls as the plant matures.
Amsinckia menziesii
Site: Boise Foothills, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-07Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
The orange spots on the inside are reported to be a distinction between var intermedia, which has the orange, and var. menzieii, which does not.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Amsinckia menziesii
Site: Boise Foothills, Ada County, ID Date: 2010-June-08Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Click on the photo for a larger image
Amsinckia menziesii
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Amsinckia menziesii initially published on USWildflowers.com 2010-08-24; Updated 2015-06-24

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