Tall Silvercrown (Luina nardosmia)
Leavenworth Ski Hill, Leavenworth, WA, 5/2017.
Variously called Luina or Cacaliopsis, this waist-high plain-looking plant’s leaves resemble those of Coltsfoot, with flowers that look somewhat like a Rainiera. Upon close inspection, (more…)
Cutleaf Fleabane (Erigeron compositus)
Marmot Pass, Buckhorn Wilderness, WA, 7/2017.
These pretty daisies were among many flowers blooming on Marmot Pass during our July visit. (more…)
Hoary False Yarrow (Chaenactis douglasii)
Horsethief Lake, Columbia Hills State Park, WA. 5/2017.
Also known as Douglas’ dusty maidens and Hoary pincushion, this white flower with woolly soft silvery leaves blends into the background. (more…)
Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
Hardy Ridge Trail, Columbia Gorge, WA, 6/2015.
Although native to the eastern US, this weed grows in moist, disturbed soils across the country.
The flower is very small, perhaps a centimeter or a bit more in diameter.
Columbia Gorge Daisy (Erigeron oreganus)
McCord Creek Falls Trail, Columbia Gorge, OR 6/2013.
Look for these on the cliff trail approaching upper McCord Creek Falls in June.
Gold Stars (Crocidium multicaule)
Lyle Cherry Orchard, Columbia Gorge, WA , 2/2015.
These charming members of the aster family, and the senecio (groundsel) tribe, bloom in early spring, usually in large groups. (more…)
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
Along Redwood Creek, Redwoods N.P., California, 8/2014.
Introduced to this continent from Europe, so that its roots could be used as a coffee substitute. (more…)
White Western Groundsel (Senecio integerrimus var. ochroleucus)
Starvation Ridge Trail, Columbia Gorge, OR, 5/2014.
Varying in color from white to yellow, this single-stemmed plant concentrates alkaloids from the soil, causing it to be poisonous to cattle in its later stages. Also known as Paleyellow Ragwort.
Coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis)
Iron Mountain, OR, 7/2014.
Also called “Western Cone Flower” and “Western Chocolate Cone”. A yellow variety occurs in southern Oregon and northern California. The purple/brown cones turn black and grow larger as they age.
Cushion Fleabane (Erigeron poliospermus var. poliospermus)
Horsethief Butte, Columbia Hills State Park, Columbia Gorge, WA, 4/2014.
“The name Fleabane was applied to this plant because there was a popular belief among country people that the flowers possessed some objectionable features that caused undesirable insects to give it a wide berth. (more…)
