You will find this strange-looking plant in the wet meadows of the alpine areas of Cedar Breaks and on the Plateaus of the Kolob Section and the Horse Pasture Plateau of Zion National Park. Its blooming season is July and August. The peculiarly modified petals of the corolla resemble the forehead, ears and waving trunk of an elephant, hence the common name Elephanthead.
92. AMERICAN HAREBELL Bellflower Family _Campanula rotundifolia_
In the drier habitats of the alpine regions around Cedar Breaks and generally along the roadsides in large clumps you may find this beautiful blue flower. The lovely deep-blue flowers, drooping on their hairlike stems, have such perfect shape and simple grace. The Harebell is very wide spread, being found in Scotland, Northern Europe and Asia as well as over much of North America.
93. WESTERN CARDINALFLOWER Lobelia Family _Lobelia splendens_
A pleasant surprise to many park visitors is to find this spectacular flower, with its abundant scarlet blooms on long stalks, presenting a colorful display during the late summer when most plants have ceased blooming. This colorful species, known also as Scarlet Lobelia, is very abundant along the Narrows Trail of Zion Canyon and also along water courses of other shady canyons. The long, tubular corollas and pointed petals arranged in irregular pattern of two and three identify this plant from the Scarlet Penstemon which it resembles.
94. RABBITBRUSH Sunflower Family _Chrysothamnus sp._
Rabbitbrush is fairly common along roadways and trails in the arid regions. Because rabbits find this plant a favorite shelter, it has been named Rabbitbrush. Indians boil the plant for yellow dye, and white man found certain species of Chrysothamnus to contain rubber.
Consideration was given to the production of rubber from Rabbitbrush during the First World War and up until the discovery of synthetic rubber.
95. CURLYCUP GUMWEED Sunflower Family _Grindelia squarrosa_
An exotic plant probably brought into the area by vehicles, as it is found most commonly along the roadways or in cultivated fields. Once started it spreads very rapidly along the highways or in cultivated areas.
The plant is suspected to be toxic to livestock, but is rarely eaten. It is used in the treatment of asthma in humans. In addition, external use is made of it to relieve the irritation caused by Poison Ivy.