Wildflower Bloom Reports for Central Oregon

Wildflower Bloom in Central Oregon: June 19 &20, 2004

South Steens Loop Road to the Rooster Comb

The Rooster Comb on the Steens Mt. of southeastern Oregon, June 20, 2004.

The South Steens Loop Road is open as high as the gate at the Rooster Comb. One may hike the road above this gate for access to the upper sections of the Steens Mt.

This list notes plants found along the South Steens Loop Road from the South Steens Camp Ground to the Rooster Comb.
* indicates flowers currently in bloom

*1. Tapertip Onion: Allium accuminatum

2. Green-banded Mariposa Lily: Calochortus macrocarpum

*3. Panicled Death Camas: Zigadenus paniculatum

*4. Dock: Rumex sp (narrow, crisped leaves)

*5. Wyeth Buckwheat: Eriogonum heracloides

*6. Strict Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum var. anserinum

*7. Sulfurflower: Eriogonum umbellatum var. nevadense

*8. Red Claytonia: Claytonia rubra ssp. rubra

*9. Bitterroot: Lewisia rediviva

*10. Sandwort: Arenaria capillaris var. americana

*11. Menzies's Silene: Silene menziesii

*12. Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum

*13. Hoary Rockcress: Arabis puberula

14. Daggerpod: Phoenicaulis cheiranthoides

*15. Creeping Oregon Grape: Berberis repens

*16. Bulblet Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (L.bulbifera)

*17. Small-flowered Prairie Stars: Lithophragma parviflorum

*18. Wax Currant: Ribes cereum

19. Curl-leaf Mountain-mahogany: Cercocarpus ledifolius var. intermontanus

20. Antelope Bitterbrush: Purshia tridentata

*21. Glandular Cinquefoil: Potentilla glandulosa var.

22. Bittercherry: Prunus emarginata

*23. Chokecherry: Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa

*24. Freckled Milk Vetch: Astragalus lentiginous var. chartaceus

*25. Tailcup Lupine: Lupinus argenteus var. heterantha

*26. Cup Clover: Trifolium cyathiferum

*27. Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea

*28. Sticky Laurel: Ceanothus velutinus var. velutinus

*29. White-stemmed Mentzelia: Mentzelia albicaulis

30. Wild Hollyhock: Illamnia rivularis

*31. Blue Flax: Linum perenne

*32. Common Clarkia: Clarkia rhomboidea

*33. Groundsmoke: Gayophytum sp.

*34. Fern-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium dissectum var. multifidum

*35. Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum var. triternatum

*36. Yampa: Perideridia montana (P. gairdneri)

A view up Big Indian Gorge towards the Steens Mt. summit, June 20, 2004.

*37. Large-flowered Collomia: Collomia grandiflora

*38. Narrow-leaved Collomia: Collomia linearis

*39. Linanthastrum: Linanthastrum nuttallii

*40. Yellow-flowered Navarretia: Navarretta breweri

*41. Midget Phlox: Phlox gracilis (Microsteris gracilis)

*42. Hood's Phlox: Phlox hoodii

*43. Ball-head Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum var. alpinum

*44. Smallflower Nemophila: Nemomphila parviflora var. austiniae

*45. Meadow Nemophila: Nemophila pedunculata

*46. Silverleaf Phacelia: Phacelia hastata

*47. Varileaf Phacelia: Phacelia heterophylla

*48. Common Cryptanth: Cryptantha intermedia var. grandiflora

*49. Blue Stickseed: Hackelia micrantha - Some plants are somewhat reminiscent of H. floribundus.

50. Puccoon: Lithospermum ruderale

*51. Broadleaf Bluebells: Mertensia ciliata

*52. Sagebrush Bluebells: Mertensia oblongifolia var. nevadensis

*53. Nettle-leaved Horsemint: Agastache urticifolia

*54. Monardella: Monardella odoratissima

*55. Wavy-leaved Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei var. pinetorum

*56. Wyoming Paintbrush: Castilleja linariifolia

*57. Paintbrush: Castilleja tenuis (Orthocarpus hispidus)

*58. Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora

59. Much-branched Bird's Beak: Cordylanthus ramosus ?

*60. Hotrock Penstemon: Penstemon deustus var. pedicellatus

61. Showy Penstemon: Penstemon speciosus - In bud.

*62. Cleavers: Galium aparine

*63. Blue Elderberry: Sambucus mexicana (S. cerulea)

*64. Mountain Snowberry: Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. rotundifolius (S. oreophilus )

*65. Downy-fruited Valerian: Valeriana acutiloba var. pubicarpa

*66. Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

*67. Pale Agoseris: Agoseris glauca

*68. Heart-leaved Arnica: Arnica cordifolia

*69. Twin Arnica: Arnica sororia

*70. Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza sagittata

*71. Blepharipappus: Blepharipappus scaber

*72. Thistle: Cirsium sp.

*73. Tapertip Hawksbeard: Crepis accuminata

*74. Western Hawksbeard: Crepis occidentalis

*75. Orange Sneezeweed: Dugaldia hoopesii (Hymenoxis hoopesii or Helenium hoopesii) - Found only within 100 meters of the gate at the Rooster Comb.

*76. Scabland Fleabane: Erigeron bloomeri var. bloomeri

77. Foothill Fleabane: Erigeron corymbosus

*78. Desert Yellow Daisy: Erigeron linearis

*79. Woolly Sunflower: Eriophyllum lanatum

*80. Curly Cup Gumweed: Grindelia squarrosa var serrulata

81. Western Hawkweed: Hieracium scouleri var. albertinum - Ready to bloom.

*82. Woolly Groundsel: Senecio canus

*83. Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus

*84. Stemless Goldenweed: Stenotus acaulis (Haplopappus acaulis)

*85. Narrowleaf Goldenweed: Stenotus stenophyllus (Haplopappus stenophylla) - Nearly finished blooming.

*86. Yellow Salsify: Tragopogon dubius

Additional Plants Seen Above the Gate at the Rooster Comb:

*86. Heart-leaved Jewelflower: Streptanthus cordatus

*87. Cryptanth: Cryptantha sp.

*88. Snapdragon Skullcap: Scutellaria antirrhinoides

*89. Common Monkey Flower: Mimulus guttatus

*90. Steens Mt. Penstemon: Penstemon davidsonii var. praeteritus

*91. Shrubby Bedstraw: Galium multiflorum

92. Longleaf Aster: Aster adscendens - In bud.

*93. Hoary False Yarrow: Chaenactis douglasii

94. Butterweed Groundsel: Senecio serra - In bud.

Animals Seen Between the South Steens CG and the Rooster Comb Along the South Loop of the Steens Mt. Road:

1. Belding Ground Squirrel

2. Sierra Nevada Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

3. Chipmunks

4. Pika

5. Kestrel

6. Immature Golden Eagle

7. Rock Wren

8. American Robin

9. Mourning Dove

10. Yellow-rumped Warbler

11. Chipping Sparrow

Paul Slichter