[The Genus Plectritis East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Long-spurred Plectritis, Longspur Seablush

Plectritis ciliosa

Synonyms: Plectritis californica, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis

Additional close-up images of the inflorescence of long-spurred plectritis as seen at the Four Sisters northwest of The Dalles, Oregon...........April 21, 2013.

The photo at right depicts long-spurred plectritis from the 3 Bench Loop Trail, east of Lyle, WA.....late March, 2001.

Characteristics:

Long-spurred Plectritis is a small, slender annual with erect stems from 10-60 cm high. The herbage is usually glabrous or lacking hairs. The leaves are opposite with the lower leaves spatulate or obovate in shape with short petioles while the upper leaves are oblong to elliptic in shape and lacking petioles. The leaves range from 1-6 cm long and 3-22 mm wide.

The flowers are two-lipped and deep pink in color wtih two red dots at the base of the middle lobe of the lower lip. The spur is long and slender, and is much longer than that found in Plectritis congesta or Plectritis macrocera. The corolla ranges from 2-8 mm long.

Habitat:

Long-spurred Plectritis may be found on seasonally moist slopes and meadows.

Range:

Long-spurred Plectritis may be found from Klickitat County, WA south through western Oregon to California.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-1200' between the White Salmon River and Dallesport, WA.

Additional close-up images of long-spurred plectritis as seen on the southeastern slopes of Sevenmile Hill several miles northwest of The Dalles, Oregon...........April 12, 2015.

Long-spurred plectritis from the 3 Bench Loop Trail, east of Lyle, WA.......late March, 2001.

Paul Slichter