Pussypaws, Mt. Hood Pussypaws
Calyptridium umbellatum
Synonyms: Calyptridium umbellatum var. caudiciferum, Calyptridium umbellatum var. umbellatum, Cistanthe umbellata, Cistanthe umbellata var. caudicifera, Cistanthe umbellata var. umbellata, Cistanthe umbellatum, Spraguea umbellata, Spraguea umbellata var. caudicifera, Spraguea umbellata var. umbellata
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Pussypaws as seen near the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.........August 13, 2018.
Characteristics:
Pussypaws are an attractive low, mat-forming perennial with a basal rosette
of leaves and several decumbent to ascending stems from 1-10 cm long. The mat
of leaves may be as much as 15 cm wide. The leaves are oblanceolate to obovate-spatulate
in shape with wide petioles. The leaves range from 1.5-5 cm long and have glabrous
leaf surfaces. The flower stems are leafless, or they may have one or more bractlike
leaves.
The flower heads are tight clusters of small flowers, and measure up to 4 cm
wide. The sepals are 4-10 mm wide with white to pinkish margins. The petals
are roughly the same size as the sepals and oblong in shape. They too are white
to pink or red in color. The alpine and subalpine plants are generally perennials,
while those of the lower elevation foothills and plains are more nearly annuals.
Pussypaws are found on open subalpine ridges, sandy to gravelly slopes, and
in ponderosa pine woods.
Range:
Pussypaws may be found from southern British Columbia south along the crest
of the Cascade Mts. south to Baja California and then east to the Rocky Mts.
of Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
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Pussypaws observed on heavily burned soils along the Hanan Trail #142, Fremont-Winema National Forest........June 17, 2020. Note the diameter of these plants compared to my 14" long boots.
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Pussypaws as seen on gravelly, late snow melt soils along the South Loop Road about one mile west of the East Rim Viewpoint, Steens Mountain...........September 20, 2015.
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The photo at left shows pussypaws along the Pine Creek Trail #201 about one-third of a mile northwest of the Roads End Trailhead, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness......June 7, 2023. Pussypaws as seen at right at Bird Creek Meadows on the southeastern
flank of Mt. Adams...........September 1998.
Paul Slichter