[Wildflowers with 5 Petals East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

The Sandalwood Family East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington

Comandraceae (formerly Santalaceae)

Flowers of Commandra umbellata v. californica

Common Bastard Toad-flax: Comandra umbellata var. californica

Members of the Sandalwood Family Found East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington:

False Toadflax, Northern Comandra: Geocaulon lividum (Synonym: Comandra livida) - Flowers either single or more typically in three's or occasionally four in the upper leaf axils. Calyx flared, the lobes as wide as tall with disc nearly flat. Fruit red. Found from Alaska south to Okanogan County, WA and east across northern Idaho to northern Michigan, New York, New Hampshire and Labrador

Note: The following two varieties are known collectively as Comandra umbellata in Oregon and Washington. I've left them separate for interest's sake.

Common Bastard Toad-flax, Comandra: Comandra umbellata var. californica (Synonyms: Comandra californica, Comandra umbellata ssp. californica) - Flowers in terminal to subterminal clusters of more than 4 flowers. Calyx segments longer than wide. The hypanthium is bell-shaped or funnel-like. Calyx lobes ovate to ovate-lanceolate, measuring 2-2.5 mm long.

Pale Bastard Toad-flax, Pale Comandra: Comandra umbellata var. pallida (Synonyms: Comandra pallida, Comandra umbellata ssp. pallida, Comandra umbellata var. angustifolia, Comandra umbellata var. pallida) - Flowers in terminal to subterminal clusters of more than 4 flowers. Calyx segments longer than wide. The hypanthium is bell-shaped or funnel-like. Calyx lobes narrowly lanceolate, measuring from 3-4 mm long.


Paul Slichter E-mail