Category Archives: Wildflowers

Native wildflowers encountered while exploring the hills of the Southern Interior.

Thompson’s Paintbrush

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Thompson’s Paintbrush (Castilleja thompsonii) is a perennial which can be found in the dry lower-elevation grasslands in mid-spring.   From a woody base branched stems rise to about 40 cm.   Linear leaves are green on the stem.    The upper leaves are in pairs and are lobed.   The inflorescence has the paintbrush shape with yellow (pale) bracts.    The flowers are small and green, shielded by the bracts.

After flowering, capsules with many seeds develop.    This Castilleja can be quite variable and may need to be closely inspected to determine the specific species.   Castilleja are semi-parasitic on the roots of other plants.  By mid-summer Thompson’s paintbrush will be hard to spot.

Shared here are photos taken by the author, in a Google Photos slideshow:

 

Small-flowered Penstemon

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Small-flowered Penstemon (Penstemon procerus) is a perennial in the figwort family.    It grows from a woody base and often forms clumps.    The green leaves are oval to lanceolate, growing oppositely and a few leaves grow around the bae on short stems.   Small purple-blue flowers grow in whorls around the stem. After flowering, capsules form with many seeds.   They … Continue reading →

Old Man’s Whiskers

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Old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) is a clump-forming perennial in the rose family which flowers in spring on the Interior Plateau of B.C.   Other common names are prairie smoke or purple avens.    It spreads by rhizomes and establishes a mat of old leaf bases over time.   In spring a cluster of basal leaves appear.    Many compound, divided leaves … Continue reading →

One-Flowered Broomrape

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We have spotted one-flowered broomrape (Aphylon uniflorum) on open south-facing damp slopes a couple of times.   It is also called one-flowered cancer root and naked broomrape and it is in the Orobanche family.    It is a parasitic herb, feeding on stonecrop and other plants.    It is short, with a bare stalk and has a purple tube-like flower. We … Continue reading →

Chocolate Lily

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Chocolate lily (Fritillaria affinis sp.) is a perennial lily which grows from a bulb in spring.   Many people call it checker lily.    Each year the plant produces bulblets which help with propagating the species.   An unbranched stem usually has a few whorled leaves which are linear to lanceolate-shaped.   Two to five bell-shaped flowers appear in spring.   The flower has … Continue reading →

Endemic Orchids of Kauai

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There are three native orchids on the Hawaiian islands, mostly found in higher areas in rain forests, and often in the trees.    They are rare and not easy to find.   There are many orchids featured in botanical gardens and show gardens from all over the world.    There are two orchids, though, that have become endemic/naturalized to the islands … Continue reading →

Blue-Eyed Grass

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Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sp.) is a short, stiff perennial in the iris family.   Most of the ones spotted in our area are Idaho blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchrum idahoense sp.), but Mountain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) is quite similar and may also be found in pockets in the Interior area.   They grow from fibrous roots to as much as 30 cm.    … Continue reading →

Upland Larkspur

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Upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum) is a perennial which grows from a tuberous many-branched root.  Tall stalks rise 15 – 40 cm. Most of the leaves are basal.  The leaves are palmate and divided/lobed.  Purple/blue flowers emerge at the top of stems and on long pedicels.     The petals tend to be lighter colored (blue-whitish) and the sepals are usually blue-violet … Continue reading →

Rattlesnake Plantain

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Western Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia) is an evergreen perennial in the orchid family which can be spotted in our mid-elevation forests of the Southern Interior.   From thick roots and spreading rhizomes Goodyera often spreads, forming small colonies.    A basal cluster of dark green leaves are oval – lanceolate and have a whitish streak down the middle.  Stiff stems rise … Continue reading →

Grass of Parnassus

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Fringed Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata) is a perennial found in damp sub-alpine areas in the BC Interior.   It grows from short, fibrous roots.   Several stems rise to as much as 30 cm.    Broad kidney-shaped basal glossy green leaves extend at low angles.    Single terminal flowers have 5 white petals, fringed with white hairs below.   In the middle … Continue reading →