Meadow death camas (Toxicoscordion venenosum) is a perennial that grows from a scaly bulb, similar to an onion. In early spring, the first basal leaves appear, usually in open spots. The leaves are narrow and linear with a V-shape, with a “keel.” The inflorescence has short floral stalks with many star-like white-yellowish flowers rising to a peak. The flowers have an … Continue reading →
Few-flowered shooting stars (Dodecatheon pulchellum sp. now Dodacatheon pauciflora) are native perennial wildflowers in the primrose family (Primulaceae) that bloom in April and May in our area. From fibrous root stocks, leafless stems grow up to 40 cm. A rosette of mostly glabrous lanceolate leaves taper off below the inflorescence. The purple to lavender flowers are complex, but … Continue reading →
Lemonweed or Stoneseed (Lithospermum ruderale) is a spring-flowering perennial found in the dry grasslands and open forests at lower elevations. From a woody taproot, several hairy stems grow up to 1 – 1.5 m. Lanceolate or linear leaves grow alternately up the stems. The inflorescence has clusters of small yellow flowers, with a pale yellow corolla and petals fused … Continue reading →
Field chickweed (Cerastium arvense) is a mat-forming perennial in the pinks (Caryophyllaceae) family found in many areas of our region. Slender stems grow from rhizomes. Narrow hairy leaves and slender hairy stems may rise to 40 cm. Chickweed is quite variable, but we usually see a single white flower or a cluster of several flowers, with 5 white notched … Continue reading →
Yellow bells (Fritillaria pudica) are low-growing perennials found in the grasslands in early spring. They are part of the lily family. They grow from scaly bulbs and many have several small corms. The stems rise to about 15-25 cm. Lanceolate-linear leaves are usually in opposite pairs. A yellow bell-shaped drooping flower sometimes has a faint purple ring near … Continue reading →
Sagebrush buttercups (Ranunculus glaberrimus) are early-blooming perennial herbs found in many habitats in our area. Sagebrush buttercups grow from thick, fleshy woody bases and emerge with low-growing, fleshy, lobed basal leaves with several short stems. All buttercups have shiny, reflective yellow flowers with 5 petals and sepals, although we have spotted many sagebrush buttercups with multiple petals … Continue reading →
Cutleaf anemone (Anemone multifida) is a perennial herb in the buttercup family (along with pasqueflowers at higher elevations. They tend to clump with a thick woody base and they usually have multiple stems. The lower leaves are hairy, segmented and have incised leaflets. Long, soft, hairy stems are topped with white, yellowish, or pinkish sepals, often tinged with purple, red, … Continue reading →
In the Interior area of B.C. at lower and middle elevations we can spot round-leaved alumroot (Heuchera cylindrica) in the grasslands, on dry plateaus, on rocky slopes, and in open forests, mostly in spring, but extending into early summer at higher elevations. It is a flowering perennial in the Saxifrage family. In gardening, cultivars are often called Coral Bells. … Continue reading →
When we hike through the hills in March, we usually spot the first wildflowers starting in the middle of the month and then we spot more at the end of the month. The first appearances are usually on south-facing open slopes above the valley floor. Slopes that are sloped at the same-opposite angle receive the most direct rays of … Continue reading →
We hiked a number of trails in the dry Central area of Washington State in April, camping at State Parks, and going out each day to hike new-to-us trails. One of the trails we enjoyed started in Swakane Canyon in the Swakane State Wildlife Area north of Wenatchee. We wound up onto open ridges above the Columbia River. We … Continue reading →
