Round-Headed Buckwheat (Eriogonum sphaerocephalum)

Umtanum Creek Recreation Area, Yakima River Canyon, WA, 6/2018.

We encountered this bright yellow buckwheat shrub dotting the pale dry sagebrush steppe in the Yakima River Valley in early summer. 

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Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia)

South Puyallup Trail, Mt Rainier National Park, WA, 7/2015.

This member of the orchid family is common in conifer woodlands across the west and northwest. 

Fuzzy-tongue Penstemon (Penstemon eriantherus v. argillosus)

Iron Mountain, Willamette National Forest, OR, 6/2016.

These fuzzy-tongue penstemon, display amazing markings to guide pollinators to their nectar. 

Western False Asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa)

Along the banks of Royal Lake, Olympic N.P., WA, 7/2016.

We’ve probably mistaken these for Death Camas, Bistort, or Valerian on many occasions.

Clasping Leaf Twisted-stalk (Streptopus amplexifolius)

Royal Basin trail, Olympic National Park, 7/2016.

This is the most common of the 3 twisted-stalks in our region. 

Monument Plant (Frasera speciosa)

Burnt Mountain Trail, William O. Douglas Wilderness Area, WA 6/2018.

Hiking along a ridge in Washington’s central Cascades, we were surprised to find a group of these large, unusual looking plants

Sagebrush Mariposa Lily (Calochortus macrocarpus)

Umtanum Ridge Trail, Yakima River Canyon (BLM), WA 6/2018.

The exquisite sagebrush mariposa lily, the largest in size of the many calochortus,

Washington Twinpod (Physaria alpestris)

Burnt Mountain Trail, William O. Douglas Wilderness, WA 6/2018.

This uncommon, low-lying member of the mustard family, also known as bladderpod, is found in dry sandy soil. 

Sitka Mistmaiden (Romanzoffia sitchensis)

 

Mary’s Peak, Siuslaw National Forest, 6/2016.

The common name “mistmaiden” is surely appropriate for these delightful flowers.

Spotted Saxifrage (Saxifraga bronchialis)

Upper Royal Basin, Olympic National Park, 7/2016.

This less-common saxifrage variety can be identified by its matted, basal, rosette-shaped leaves (shared with the Tolmiei species) and its upright, red stems, but mainly by the yellow, orange and red spots on its petals.