Silverleaf Phacelia (Phacelia hastata)
Upper Canyon Creek Meadows Trail, Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, OR, 7/2019.
We found this guy holding on amidst alpine scree and snow near the crest of central Oregon’s Three Fingered Jack this summer. (more…)
Sitka Mistmaiden (Romanzoffia sitchensis)
Mary’s Peak, Siuslaw National Forest, 6/2016.
The common name “mistmaiden” is surely appropriate for these delightful flowers. (more…)
Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
Lower Table Rock, BLM Medford district, Oregon, 4/2018.
Although the flowers were quite small (less than 0.5 inches in diameter), we still believe the Nemophila we found growing among the grasses near the seasonal vernal pools on top of Table Rock a few weeks back are of the fairly common menziesii species (more…)
Varileaf Phacelia (Phacelia heterophylla)
Horse Rock Ridge Trail, OR, 6/2016.
We found this Varileaf phacelia specimen at the lower edge of its elevation range (more…)
Silky Phacelia (Phacelia sericea)
Upper Royal Basin Trail, Olympic NP, 7/2016.
This is the most attractive phacelia we’ve encountered. (more…)
Great Hound’s Tongue (Cynoglossum grande)
Mitchell Point Trail, Columbia Gorge, OR, 3/2015.
Not sure why both the genus name and the common name refer to a dog’s tongue (the leaves?). (more…)
Woodland Phacelia (Phacelia nemoralis)
Horsethief Butte, Columbia Hills State Park, Columbia Gorge, WA, 4/2014.
This strange looking plant is not, as one might guess, related to Fiddleneck, but rather a member of the waterleaf family. (more…)
Pacific Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum tenuipes)
Cascade Head Nature Preserve, OR, 4/2014.
Like other members of the waterleaf family, the stamens of the flowers extend beyond the corolla and the leaves are large and numerous, allowing them to collect moisture. This species is also known as “Slender-stem Waterleaf.” The Greek hydrophyllum is a direct translation of the common name.
Compare to the bluish Ball-head Waterleaf.
Ball-head Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitatum var. thompsonii)
Chiwaukum Creek Trail, Wenatchee NF, WA, 5/2017.
This is sometimes called “Bull-head Waterleaf,” and a close relative of this is called “Woollen Breeches.” (more…)
Small-flowered Fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii)
Labyrinth Trail, Columbia Gorge, WA 6/2013.
The nickname comes from the flower head’s resemblance to the curled tuning head of a violin. The bristle-like hairs that cover this plant can irritate the skin. The tiny black nuts that are produced by each flower are said to be poisonous to cattle.
Tall Bluebells aka Tall Lungwort (Mertensia paniculata)
Berkeley Park Meadow, Mount Rainier N.P., WA, 8/2011
Not to be confused with Campanula rotundifolia aka Harebell. Mountain beaver are said to be particularly fond of this native plant.
Stickseed aka Wild Forget-me-not (Hackelia floribunda)
Lake Louise, Banff N.P. , Alberta, Canada 7/2011.
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