[Drabas and Whitlow-grasses: The Generas Cusickiella and Draba East of the Cascade Mts. of Oregon and Washington]

Cusick's Draba, Steens Draba, Steens Mountain Whitlow Grass

Draba cusickii var. cusickii

Synonyms: Draba sphaeroides, Draba sphaeroides var. cusickii

Steens draba as seen along the upper South Loop Road on the Steens Mountain, Harney County, Oregon........August 31, 2011.

Flowers of Cusick's Draba, Steens Draba, Steens Mountain Whitlow Grass: Draba cusickii var. cusickii (Synonyms: Draba sphaeroides, Draba sphaeroides var. cusickii)

The photo at right shows a close-up of the flowers of Steens draba. Photographed at the Rooster Comb, Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon......June 23, 1999.

Characteristics:

Also known as Steens Mountain whitlow-grass, Steens draba is a perennial wildflower which forms mat-like cushions with several leafy stems arising 2-4 cm and the flower stems another 7-15 cm above them. The leaves are spatulate or obovate in shape with entire margins and blades from 4-10 mm long. The blades are densely haired with branched to fork hairs on both the upper and lower surfaces. The flower stems are thin and lax and are covered by delicate branched hairs which give them a "frosted" appearance. One or two small leaves may be found near the base of the stem.

The inflorescence is a raceme of yellow flowers. The petals are 3-5 mm long. The fruits are siliques which eventually are found over about 2/3 the length of the flower stem. They are lance-oblong in shape and flat in cross-section. They are 5-7 mm long and are covered with fine hairs.

Habitat:

Steens Draba may be found on open rocky ridges on the Steens Mt.

Range:

Steens Draba is endemic to the Steens Mt. Other varieties of Draba cusickii may be found on high summits from the Steens Mt. east to Wyoming and Utah.

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Close-ups of the inflorescence and basal leaf cluster of Steens draba as along the upper South Loop Road on the Steens Mountain, Harney County, Oregon........August 31, 2011. Note the obovate to spatulate leaves covered with branched or forked hairs.

Cusick's draba as seen at the base of boulders along the South Loop Road about one mile downhill to the west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain..........July 9, 2014.

Steens draba. Photographed near the Kiger Gorge on the Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon.......July 6, 2004.

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Steens draba as photographed near Kiger Gorge on the Steens Mt. in southeastern Oregon........July 6, 2004. Note the obovate to spatulate leaves covered with branched or forked hairs and the ascending, lance-like fruits.

Paul Slichter