​Flaxflowered Gilia, Pale Trumpets, Starflower, Longflowered Skyrocket,Ipomopsis longiflora,Phlox Family (Polemoniaceae)

The Bloom Blog
Blooming this week in the environs of Abiquiú
By Wildflowers of the Southern Rocky Mountains 

By Marilyn Phillips

Found in open, sandy areas
Seen blooming in late August near Hwy 554

This delicate plant grows to 18 inches with many branches, and slender grey-green leaves and stems. Flowers are white, light blue or lavender with a floral tube up to 3 inches long. It blooms from spring to fall depending on the rains, as so many do. Native Americans had many uses for the plant and used it to treat a variety of ailments. A decoction of the leaves was taken for stomachaches; crushed leaves and flowers were steeped into a tea that was taken for headaches, used on sores, and as a hair tonic to prevent baldness and lengthen the hair; and the plant was chewed together with salt to treat heartburn. An infusion of roots was used to eliminate the ozone in cases of lightning shock. An infusion of the flowers was mixed with feed and given to sheep with stomach disorders. The Zuni people use the dried, powdered flowers to create a poultice to remove hair on newborns and children. The Navajo used the plant to make a prebreakfast drink which was taken to make the person 'bark' or sing loudly for the Squaw Dance. Source.

If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.