[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Oregon: 2015]

Summit Prairie

Malheur National Forest

(includes vernally wet meadows, riparian areas, upland shrub-scrub and upland coniferous forest)

August 10, 2015

Summit Prairie viewed northeast towards the eastern end of the Strawberry Mountains, Malheur National Forest........August 10, 2015.

Drying vernally moist meadows at Summit Prairie, Malheur National Forest as seen from the south end, looking north towards the eastern end of the Strawberry mountains at left.........August 10, 2015. Numerous western mountain asters (Symphyotrichum spathulatum) dominate the late season flora here. Note the additional scenic photos at the bottom of this page.

The plants are derived primarily from observations from along FS Road #16 as much of Summit Prairie is private (and has cattle on it during mid to late summer).
* indicates wildflowers currently in bloom.

Comprehensive Plant List for Summit Prairie

Lodgepole Pine: Pinus contorta var. latifolia

* Daggerleaf Rush: Juncus ensifolius

Nebraska Sedge: Carex nebrascensis

* Meadow Foxtail: Alopecurus pratensis

Bigpod Mariposa: Calochortus eurycarpus - Mature pods

* Hooded Lady's Tresses: Spiranthes romanzoffiana - Fading out of bloom.

* Parsnipflower Buckwheat: Eriogonum heracleoides var. heracleoides - Fading out of bloom.

* Sticky Chickweed: Cerastium glomeratum

* Pennsylvania Bittercress: Cardamine pennsylvanica

Bog Saxifrage: Micranthes oregana - Past bloom.

Wax Currant: Ribes cereum var. cereum

Elmer's Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis var. elmeri - Past bloom.

* Graceful Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata

* Birdsfoot Trefoil: Lotus corniculatus

* Velvet Lupine: Lupinus leucophyllus - Fading out of bloom.

* Cup Clover: Trifolium cyathiferum

* Red Clover: Trifolium pratense - Fading out of bloom.

* White Clover: Trifolium repens

* Streambank Clover: Trifolium wormskioldii

* Oregon Checkermallow: Sidalcea oregana - A few plants still in bloom.

* Annual Willowherb: Epilobium brachycarpum

* Purple-leaved Willowherb: Epilobium ciliatum var. ciliatum

* Diffuse Groundsmoke: Gayophytum diffusum var. parviflorum

* Field Bindweed: Convolvulus arevensis

* Pleated Gentian: Gentiana affinis

* Fringed Gentian: Gentianopsis simplex

California Jacob's Ladder: Polemonium californicum

Field Mint: Mentha canadensis (M. arvense)

* Narrowleaf Skullcap: Scutellaria angustifolia (var. ?) - Fading out of bloom.

* Annual White Paintbrush: Castilleja tenuis - Fading out of bloom.

* Common Monkeyflower: Erythrante guttata - Fading out of bloom.

* Yellow Owl Clover: Orthocarpus luteus - Fading out of bloom.

* American Brooklime: Veronica americana

* Hairy Purslane Speedwell: Veronica peregrina var. xalapensis

* Rare-flowered Heterocodon: Heterocodon rariflorum

Large-flowered Agoseris: Agoseris grandiflora - Past bloom.

Leafy Arnica: Arnica chamissonis ssp. foliosa

Low Sagebrush: Artemisia arbuscula (ssp. ?)

* Mountain Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana

* Sticky-flowered Rabbitbrush: Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus ssp. viscidiflorus - Beginning to bloom.

Elk Thistle: Cirsium scariosum - Past bloom.

* Hoary Aster: Dieteria canescens var. canescens

* Rabbitbrush Goldenweed: Ericameria bloomeri

* Mountain Rubber Rabbitbrush: Ericameria nauseosa var. oreophila

* Mountain Tarweed: Madia glomerata - Fading out of bloom.

* Tacky Goldenweed: Pyrrocoma hirta - Fading out of bloom.

* Western Canada Goldenrod: Solidago lepida var. lepida

* Western Meadow Aster: Symphyotrichum campestre ?

* Eaton's Aster: Symphyotrichum eatonii

* Western Mountain Aster: Symphyotrichum spathulatum var. spathulatum


Animals Observed at Summit Prairie:

Chipmunks

Northern Harrier

Loggerhead Shrike

Common Snipe

Western Meadowlarks

Olive-sided Flycatcher ?

Mountain Bluebirds

Western Tanagers

Dark-eyed Juncos

Vesper Sparrows

Mountain Chickadees

Fritillarys

Orange Sulphur


The upland portion of Summit Prairie viewed north, Malheur National Forest.......August 10, 2015. - Summit Prairie viewed from the western edge, Malheur National Forest........August 10, 2015.

The photo at left shows a view of some of the upland balds at the south end of Summit Prairie, looking northward. The photo at right shows a view of Summit Prairie as seen from the western edge. This particular area is fenced (to contain cattle) and is privately owned. Malheur National Forest.........August 10, 2015.

Paul Slichter