Flower Information for Collection #3:Deception Pass Volkswalk |
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Deception Pass is a narrow, river-like waterway connecting the northeastern part of Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is located near Anacortes, Washington. The flowers were photographed along the Deception Pass State Park trails through the woods, along the beach, and onto the bluffs.
Yellow Parentucillia
Parentucellia viscosa
Figwort Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description:Hairy plant, 10-70 cm (4-36") tall. Flowers 2 cm (1") long, 1 cm (1/2") across.
Ecology: Moist grassy sites, clearing and pastures. Low elevations.
Additional Information: The upper-lip is hooded, lower lip 3-lobed. Yellow Parentucillia is a weedy Mediterranean plant.
Hooker's Onion
Allium acuminatum
Lily Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: 15-45 cm (6-18") tall. Erect umbels of 7-25 flowers with pointy petals and sepals that curl back at the tips.
Ecology: Dry to moist, open rocky sites and open forest. Low elevations.
Additional Information: Hooker's Onion gives off a strong onion odor. It can be very numerous, covering a whole hillside with blossoms.
Slender Rein-orchid
Platanthera stricta
Orchid Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: To 30-75 cm (12-30") tall with leaves becoming grass-like up the stem. Green, waxy flowers, .5-1.4 cm (1/4-1/2") across.
Ecology: Wet meadows and boggy areas, coniferous forests, along streams and forest edges. Low to subalpine elevations.
Additional Information: The lower petal is shorter than the other petals and is broad and sac-like. Slender or Green Bog-orchid are other names for it.
Indian Pipe
Monotropa uniflora
Wintergreen Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: White, waxy plant, 10-25 cm (4-10") tall. A single, nodding, bell-shaped flower, about 2 cm (1') long.
Ecology: Moist humus in shaded, mature, coniferous forests.
Additional Information: This is a saprophyte, connected by fungi to nearby coniferous tree roots. It has 10 orange anthers, but these are hard to see. As it matures the flower points up and the plant turns black. The large picture shows the flower at a later stage. It was taken on Bandera Road (North Bend) on 9/3/01.
Nodding Onion
Allium cernuum
Lily Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: To 30 cm (12") tall. Nodding umbels of bell-shaped flowers.
Ecology: Open dry woods, exposed grassy places, rocky crevices, sandy soils. Low to subalpine.
Additional Information: Each petal and sepal has 1 thin, darker vein. It has 6 protruding stamens This is the most common of the onions and gives of the traditional onion odor.
White Rein-orchid
Platanthera dilatata
Orchid Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: Up to 75 cm (30") tall, with tongue-like leaves clasping the stem all the way to the top. 5-30 waxy flowers, 1 cm (1/2") across.
Ecology: Swamps, bogs, wet meadows. Middle to high elevations.
Additional Information: The White Rein-orchid is very fragrant. It has the typical orchid structure: one sepal, two petals creating a hood over the "lip" petal, and 2 sepals spread wide on the sides. Only insects with long, flexible tongues can reach the nectar in the spur on the back. It is usually pollinated by moths. Another name for it is White Bog-orchid.
Puget Sound Gumweed
Grindelia integrifolia
Aster Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description:Bushy plant, to 90 cm (36") tall. Flowers 1.3 4 cm (1/2 to 1 1/2") across.
Ecology: Usually beaches and salt marshes, but also non-maritime habitats. Low elevations.
Additional Information: Like other members of the Aster Family, Pacific Gumweed has both ray flowers (10-35) around the outside and disk flowers (10-35) in the center. The bracts that hold the flowers point out at the tips. The bracts are covered with an extremely, sticky latex.
Pink Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
Honeysuckle Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: Slender, trailing plant to 4-9 meters (12-30 feet). Flowers 1-2 cm (1/2-1") long.
Ecology: Dry open forests, thickets and rocky ridges.
Additional Information: The end pair of leaves join to form a disk. The clusters of flowers are on stems from the center of this disk. The vines climb high into trees or trail over shrubs or rocky slopes. The fruits are clusters of red, bitter berries. It is also called Hairy or California Honeysuckle.
Sea-watch
Angelica lucida
Carrot Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: Stout, single stem 100-150 cm (3-5') tall with 20 40 tiny flowers in compact umbels.
Ecology: Moist beaches, coastal bluffs, meadows, and stream banks. Low elevations, mostly maritime..
Additional Information: The plant is similar to Kneeling Angelica, but does not have the kinks in the leaves. The stems and leaf-stalks were eaten by the Native Americans.
Pacific Silverweed
Potentilla anserina ssp.pacifica
Rose Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: 15-40 cm (6-15") tall. Single flowers 2.5 cm (1") across, on leafless stems.
Ecology: Marsh, streamsides, and along beaches. Low to middle elevations.
Additional Information: It has a strawberry-like habit; i.e. long runners produce new plants at the nodes. The leaves are green on the top, but silvery white underneath. The roots were an important food of the Native Americans. This plant is also called Beach Cinquefoil.
Ocean Spray
Holidiscus discolor
Rose Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: Shrub to 4.5 m (15') tall. Tiny flowers grow in 6-12 inch, pyramidal clusters, which droop with the weight of the flowers.
Ecology: Dry to moist open sites, especially along roads and at the edges of bluffs. Mostly low to middle elevations.
Additional Information: When in full bloom this common roadside shrub is almost completely covered with clusters of blossoms. The dried husks winter over, making it easy to identify the shrub when there are no leaves or blossoms. Because the wood is hard, strong, and straight Ocean Spray is also called Arrow-wood or Ironwood. The Native Americans used the straight young branches to make arrow shafts, digging sticks, and harpoons. Pegs for construction were made from it before the use of nails.
Harvest Brodiaea
Brodiaea coronaria
Lily Family
Location: Deception Pass 7/20/02.
Description: 5-25 cm (2-10") tall. Flowers 2-4 cm (3/4 to 1 3/4") across, in loose umbels.
Ecology: Grassy meadows and slopes, rocky areas. Low elevations.
Additional Information: In the center of the flower, the U-shaped, unfertile stamens form the corners of a triangle, almost enclosing the fertile stamens. This flower is sometimes called Triteleia. Another common name is Large Cluster Lily.