Wildflowers, White Pg2

Cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), a very interesting plant. The following is a quote from Wikipedia about this plant: "Various Native American peoples had many different uses for this plant; all parts of it were used by one nation or another. Perhaps the most common use was to make poultices to be applied to bruises or sores. In addition, the young stalks and leaf stems - before the plant reaches maturity - were widely used for food with the outer skin peeled off giving a sweetish flavor. The dried stems were also used as drinking straws for the old or infirm, and to make flutes for children. A yellow dye can be made from the roots, and an infusion of the flowers can be rubbed on the body to repel flies and mosquitoes". It is also noted that the plant can ruin the milk of cows that eat it. It is actually listed as an endangered plant in the state of Kentucky! Plant location: Seen on July 7, 2007 off the side of the road headed toward Greenwater Washington. Bloom season: A good long period, February through September.
Rocky Mountain Thimbleberry (Oreobatus deliciosus), family Rosaceae (Rose). Plant location: Seen in the Rocky Mountain foothills in Colorado state at Hwy 72 and Plainview Road. We don't remember the name of the Open Space. The date was June 6, 2008. Bloom season: June and July. Note that this early the berries were already forming.
Desert or Esteve's Pincushion, or Steve's dustymaiden (Chaenactis stevioides), family Asteraceae (Daisy). There are 18 different species in the genus, which are all native to North America but vary greatly in appearance. The colors are yellow, white, or pink. Plant location: This specimen was outside the Cle Elum Washington area in early June of 2007. Bloom season: March through June.
Alpine Sandwort (Minuartia obtusiloba), family Caryophyllaceae (Pink). Plant location: Photographed on Mt Evans Colorado, all the way up top, on July 20, 2008. Bloom season: June to September loosly.
Marsh marigold -or- Elk's lip (Caltha leptosepala or howellii), family Ranunculaceae Buttercup). This is probably obvious from the name, but this plant LOVES the water. We saw for ourselves just how much. At a creek crossing along the trail there were many of these fresh white flowers lining the banks. A new flower was a good reason for halting to take pictures. A close look for the best specimens and lighting caused us to notice a sight never before seen. There were two wide open blooms close to the bank COMPLETELY submerged in water, looking perfectly happy and lovely!! We of course took pictures. The water was so clear that it was not apparent that the flowers WERE under water! Darn! The genus Caltha is very small, only 10 species. The elevation range of the plant is 3000 to 11,000 feet! There are actually two variants of Marsh marigolds. It is a matter of botanical debate if they are subspecies or should be named independently. Our interesting specimen has qualities of BOTH! The petals are rounded like the subspecies leptosepala, with the foliage more like that of the subspecies howellii. See what YOU think! Plant location: Seen on July 4, 2007 hiking Bench/Snow Lake on Mt Rainier (Washington state). Bloom season: May through August.
Long-stalked Startwort (Stellaria longipes), family Caryophyllaceae (Pink). Plant location: These were in the Rocky Mountain National Park, pretty high up, on July 17, 2008. Bloom season: Unknown.
Spreading Phlox (Phlox diffusa), family Polemoniaceae. This plant puts on a marvelous display of pure white brightness as it expands it's horizons through the season. It is a ground covering type of growth. It is considered an alpine plant, although it can be found as low as 3500 feet. The Mt Rainier area has recorded phlox as high as 12,000 feet! The genus Phlox is fairly small with only approximately 67 members. Most of these are native to North America, but some are from northeastern Asia. The flowers are supposedly a popular food source of deer, groundhogs, and rabbits. Some varieties of Phlox have made their way into the common garden and are appreciated for their tendency to attract butterflies. Plant location: Hiking Esmerelda Basin, in the Cle Elum Washington area. Mid June, 2007, was the sighting of this particular specimen. We have seen good numbers of spreading phlox in many areas of Washington and Oregon, including Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, and Dog Mountain. Bloom season: June through August, but it is not surprising to see it still going strong in September.
Fieldcress (Neolepia campestre), Brassicaceae (Mustard). Weber notes that this plant has usually been included in the genus Lepidium. He does not agree based on fundamental differences between it and other members of Lepidium. Plant location: Hwy 72 and Plainview Road, Colorado, we can't remember the name of the Open Space. June 6, 2008. Bloom season: May through July.
Baneberry, also know as Bugbane (Actaea rubra). This especially delicate looking flower is a KILLER!!! The red berries that this plant bears has been reported to have fatally poisoned little children (in Europe). But there is more excitement to learn about this plant; Actaea is recorded as a food plant for the larva of the Dot Moth. Now how can you beat that?!! Plant location: Larch Mountain, Columbia Gorge area Oregon state - early July 2007. Bloom season: May through July.
Wild Tarragon (Oligosporus dracunculus), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower). This example of the species shows the plant in it's later stage of the season. Plant location: Hwy 72 and Plainview Road, Colorado, we can't remember the name of the Open Space. July 11, 2008. Bloom season: Unknown.
Howell's pusseytoes (Antennaria howellii), family Asteraceae (everlasting tribe). This plant and the next two on this page are all from the Asteraceae family with the close association botanically showing itself in obvious fashion. This particular sighting of the Howell's species was exciting. It is a less common plant and easily mistaken for the similar Pearly everlasting. Look at the plant area of this panel carefully to note the fleshier, thicker foliage on the Howell's specimen as well as the symmetrical leaf pattern. There are four subspecies of howellii: howellii, canadensis, neodioica, and petaloidea. There are NO pictures to be found. Time to get busy! Plant location: Seen on Mt Rainier, Sunrise area in early July 2007. Bloom season: all through summer.
Water Pepper -or- Common Smartweed (Persicaria hydropiper), family Polygonaceae (Knotweed). Plant location: September 9, 2008 was the date the specimen was photographed in the Adams County Regional Open Sapce in Colorado state. The sandy looking soil in the photograph is actually a riverbed that has dried for a time. Bloom season: June to October.
Rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea). There are only about 45 species in this genus, most of them native to North America. The name comes from the characteristic of the plant's stamens to 'project' from the flower base and appear like insect antenna. We will take the scientists word for that, we don't see it in these specimens. (smiles) Plant location: Cle Elum Washington, early June 2007, and in the current frames are photos from the newer sighting - Boulder County Open Space, Colorado on May 19, 2009. Bloom season: July to September.
Sheperd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), family Brassicaceae (Mustard). Plant location: Northglenn Colorado in a field. May 8, 2009. This delicate plant can easily be missed, the plant view was hard to capture and indeed we almost stepped on it! Bloom season: March to December.
White Fairy Trumpet (Ipomopsis aggregata candida), family Polemoniaceae (Phlox). Plant location: Hwy 72, Colorado, towards the front range - July 11, 2008. The USDA plant database shows these only in Colorado and New Mexico. Bloom season: June to August.
Brandegee's Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium brandegeei), family Polemoniaceae (Phlox). The immediate thing that caught our eye about this plant was the presence of white and blue flowers appearing to be on the same plant. William Weber speaks of this as introgressive hybridization. Lovely and not especially common plants. Plant location: Rocky Mountain National Park on July 17, 2008. Bloom season: Unknown.