[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Oregon: 2015]

Wildflowers of Cottonwood Canyon State Park

Sherman County, Oregon

February 22, 2015

Cottonwood Canyon State Park: February 22, 2015

A view east downstream along the John Day River Canyon from the west canyon rim above the Cottonwood Canyon State Park campground...........February 22, 2015.

* indicates the wildflower is currently in bloom.

Western Juniper: Juniperus occidentalis

Cowpie Lichen: Diploschistes (muscorum ?)

Navel Lichen: Umbilicaria sp.

Lacelip Fern: Cheilanthes gracillima

Fragile Fern (Cystopteris fragilis) or Oregon Cliff Fern (Woodsia oregana)

* Cheat Grass: Bromus tectorum

Bottlebrush Squirreltail: Elymus elymoides ?

Idaho Fescue: Festuca idahoensis ?

Bulbous Bluegrass: Poa bulbosa ?

* Leiberg's Bluegrass: Poa leibergii - Beginning to bloom.

Sandberg's Bluegrass: Poa secunda (ssp. ?) ?

Bluebunch Wheatgrass: Pseudoroegneria spicata

Sagebrush Mariposa: Calochortus macrocarpus var. macrocarpus

* Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica - Numerous on the higher, north-facing slopes.

Bicolored Cluster Lily: Triteleia grandiflora - Basal leaves present.

Strict Buckwheat: Eriogonum strictum (var. proliferum ?)

Broom Buckwheat: Eriogonum vimineum ?

Prickly Russian Thistle: Salsola tragus

Umbellate Springbeauty: Claytonia umbellata

* Jagged Chickweed: Holosteum umbellatum - Beginning to bloom.

Hornseed Buttercup: Ranunculus testiculatus - In bud.

* Tansymustard: Descurainia (longipedicellata or pinnata ?) - Beginning to bloom. No fruits.

* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna - Quite numerous.

Tall Tumblemustard: Sisymbrium altissimum

* Bulblet Prairie Star: Lithophragma bulbifera

* Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum

* Small-flowered Prairie Star: Lithophragma parviflorum

Woolly-pod Milkvetch: Astragalus purshii (var. glareosus ?) - Pods visible from last year.

Milkevetch #2: Astragalus sp.

Milkvetch #3: Astragalus sp.

* Filaree: Erodium cicutarium

Hedge-parsley: Caucaulis microcarpus ?

* Canby's Desert Parsley: Lomatium canbyi - Past peak on upper balds.

* Salt and Pepper: Lomatium gormanii

* Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi - Beginning to bloom.

* Henderson's Desert Parsley: Lomatium hendersonii

* Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum - Cream-flowered form, although some have a lavendar tinge.

Nineleaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum (var. triternatum ?)

* Midget Phlox: Microsteris gracilis - Beginning to bloom.

* Hood's Phlox: Phlox hoodii - Beginning to bloom.

Silverleaf Phacelia: Phacelia hastata var. hastata

Fiddleneck: Amsinckia sp. - Dried remains of last year's plants.

Popcornflower: Plagiobothrys sp.

* Cleavers: Galium aparine - Beginning to bloom amongst talus.

Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

* Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha - Beginning to bloom.

Stiff Sagebrush: Artemisia rigida

Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata (ssp. tridentata ?)

* Carey's Balsamroot: Balsamorhiza careyana - Beginning to bloom.

Wavyleaf Thistle: Cirsium undulatum

Showy Rubber Rabbitbrush: Ericameria nauseosa (var. speciosa ?)

Columbia Goldenweed: Ericameria resinosa

Threadleaf Fleabane: Erigeron filifolius

Yellow Desert Daisy: Erigeron linearis

Cushion Fleabane: Erigeron poliospermus var. poliospermus ?

Matchbrush: Gutierrezia sarothrae

Skeletonweed: Stephanomeria (tenuifolia ?)


Animals Observed During This Hike:

Bighorn Sheep

Mule Deer

Pronghorn Antelope - Observed along OR 206 in Grass Valley Canyon west of Klondike Road.

Canada Geese - Along the banks of the John Day River.

Ravens

Rock Wrens


Paul Slichter