Flower Information for Collection 1:Plant Family Sampler |
Where to now? Back to the Home Page See the snapshots page |
This collection presents one flower from each of 12 flower families. These flowers were chosen because they are seen often on trails in the parks around Puget Sound and/or the forest zones of the Cascade Mountains.
Cooley's Hedge-nettle
Stachys cooleyae
Mint Family
Location: Tradition Lake Plateau (Issaquah, WA) 6/24/02.
Description: Leafy plant 70-150 cm (28-60") tall. Flowers to 2-4 cm (.75 to 1.5") long.
Ecology: Widespread in moist, light shade at low to middle elevations, often at edge of woods.
The main stems are square in cross-section, a characteristic of mint family. The plant looks something like stinging nettle, but it is in a different family, has pretty flowers, and does not irritate the skin. The long, tubular flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.
Siberian Miner's Lettuce
Claytonia siberica
Purslane Family
Location: Lord Hill Regional Park (Snohomish WA) 5/2/02.
Description: Plant with somewhat succulent leaves; 12-30 cm (5-12") tall. Flowers have notched petals 6-12mm (1/4 to 1/2") long, usually with pink or red lines. Petals noticeably notched.
Ecology: Common in moist, light to medium shade at low to middle elevations.
In some areas, especially at low elevations, this is a major ground cover in the woods and can persist from spring to fall. The leaves can be used as salad greens. This species was first discovered in Siberia, but it is also a native here. It is sometimes called Candy Flower.
Spotted Coralroot
Corallorhiza maculata
Orchid Family
Location: Granite Mt. (Snoqualmie Pass) 7/21/02.
Description: Reddish saprophyte, 20-40 cm (8-16") tall. Flowers .6-1.2 cm (1/4-1/2") long in loose spike. Has the typical orchid structure: 3 sepals and 2 lateral petals that are similar and one broad, "tongue" petal..
Ecology: In rich humus in somewhat dry coniferous or mixed forest; often in dense forests. Low to middle elevations.
Additional Information: Coralroot is named for the coral-like rhizomes (roots). It does not make use of photosynthesis; it has scales on the stem instead of leaves and no green parts. It makes its food from dead organic matter. There are two other coralroots (Striped and Western) in our area. Coralroot often grows in colonies from spreading underground rhizomes.
Tiger Lily
Lilium columbianum
Lily Family
Location: Granite Mt. (Snoqualmie Pass) 7/21/02.
Description: To 120 cm (50") tall. Usually 2 or 3, nodding flowers 2-5 cm (1-2") across.
Ecology: Forest openings and meadows: Low to subalpine elevations.
Additional Information: The leaves are in whorls up the stems and the petals curve sharply back, leaving a tuft of protruding stamens. Sometimes there are 6 or more flowers on a stem. The bulbs were used as food by the Native Americans. Another name for this lily is Columbia Lily.
Large-leaved Avens
Geum macrophyllum
Rose Family
Location: Seattle WA 5/22/02.
Description: Leafy, 90 cm (36") tall. One or more 1 cm (1/2") flowers at top of stem.
Ecology: Open areas and open forest. Low to middle elevations. Common in city parks and other wooded areas as well as in the forests.
Additional Information: A very leafy plant, especially in moist soils. Lower leaves are very large (to 30 cm = 12" long) and distinctively divided; upper leaves, 3-lobed and reduced in size up the stem. Flowers similar to buttercup, but not glossy and the petals are spaced and attached to the outside of the disk holding the many stamens and the pistil, a characteristic of the Rose Family. The fruits are brown burrs with hooks that catch on clothing and the fur of animals.
Western Starflower
Trientalis latifolia
Primrose Family
Location: Rattlesnake Ledge (North Bend WA) 6/1/02.
Description: Whorl of 4-8 basal leaves. The flower stem (or stems) are 10-25 cm (4-10") tall, each with a single flower, 1.3 cm (1/2") across, with 5 to 9 (usually 6 or 7) pointy petals.
Ecology: Shady and open forests at low to middle elevations.
Additional Information: Blossoms may be pure white, tinged with pink or entirely pink. It is sometime the predominate ground cover. Pacific Starflower or Broad-leaved Starflower are other common names.
One-sided Wintergreen
Orthilia secunda
Wintergreen Family
Location: Lake Ann Trail (Mt. Baker) 8/12/02
Description: Evergreen plant, under 20 cm (8"). Clusters of 5 to 20 nodding, bell-shaped flowers, 5-6 mm (1/4") across.
Ecology: Dry to moist, usually coniferous forests; low to subalpine.
Additional Information: The flowers are the shape of heather blossoms and have the protruding style of Pyrolas. It is often found in dense forests. Also known as Pyrola secunda.
Arctic Lupine
Lupinus arcticus
Pea Family
Location: Mt. St. Helens 8/11/01
Description: To 60 cm (24") tall. Flowers to 2 cm (1.5") long in an elongate cluster along the stem.
Ecology: Open areas at all elevations, but most abundant at middle to subalpine elevations.
Additional Information: There are many species of lupine. They are found at all altitudes and are often the predominate flower in subapline meadows. The identifying characteristics of the Alpine Lupine are the white blazes on banner petal and the white keel.
Red Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Buttercup Family
Location:Columbia Gorge (Oregon Side) 6/13/02
Description: To 100 cm (40") tall. Blossoms 3 -5 cm (1.5- 2") across.
Ecology: Moist, open to partly shaded sites, low elevations to timberline.
Additional Information: Note five, reddish spurs with bulbous nectar-filled glands at the tips. The nectar is reached only by humming birds or butterflies with long tongues. (It is hard to believe this is in the same family as the simple, buttercup!).
Oxeye Daisy
Leucanthemum vulgare
Aster Family
Location:Rattlesnake Lake (North Bend WA) 7/24/02
Description: 20 to 80 cm (8-32') tall. Blossoms 2-5 cm (1-2") across.
Ecology: Fields, meadows and roadsides, mostly at low elevations.
Additional Information: This is an introduced, naturalized weed from Europe. It can be quite prolific in disturbed sites, such as along the edges of logging roads and highways. It is also known as Chrysanthemum leucanthemum.
Fireweed
Epilobium angustifolium
Evening Primrose Family
Location: Seattle WA 7/5/02
Description: To 180 cm (6') tall with long cluster of 2.5 cm (1") flowers at top of stem. Sometimes grows to 10' tall.
Ecology: Moist to fairly dry clearings and disturbed areas at all elevations.
Additional Information: The nectar makes excellent honey. Note the pistil in each of the flowers in the large photo: hidden in one, another with the stigma beginning to open, and protruding and fully opened to form a cross in the last one. The seed pods are long and bright pink, splitting open lengthwise to release seeds with cottony hairs which can move in the wind to distant locations. Fireweed also spreads by roots. This is one of the first plants to appear in logged-off or burned areas. It tends to die off when the forests regenerate.
Alaska Saxifrage
Saxifraga ferruginea
Saxifrage Family
Location: Comet Falls (Mt. Rainier) 8/5/20
Description: Basal rosette of leaves. The flower stems 10-35 cm (4-14") tall have a panicle of small flowers, 1 cm (1/2") across.
Ecology: Moist mossy outcrops, stream banks. Sea level to alpine.
Additional Information: This dainty flower, best viewed through a magnifying glass, has three narrow upper-petals with 2 yellow splotches and 2 narrow lower petals without splotches. It is also called Rusty Saxifrage because of the rust-colored anthers on the stamen.