[Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Washington: 2008]
Wildflower Bloom in Central and Eastern Washington

March 22, 2008

Selah Butte

Sagebrush Violet: Violat trinervata - The photo above shows white-flowered versions of this species along with the more common color phase. Also seen at t his location were plants with white lower petals and dark purple upper petals as well as plants with lower petals that were a much darker purple than seen here. Photographed along the access road to Selah Butte...................March 22, 2008.
* Indicates the plant is currently in bloom.

1. Bluebunch Wheatgrass: Pseudoroegneria spicata (Agropyron spicatum) -

* 2. Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica - Thousands of yellow bells can be seen crowded together on the lower slopes, although most of these are aging to a rusty red color and are beginning to fade away. Yellow bells near the summit of Selah Butte, although less numerous, are still going strong.

3. Slender Buckwheat: Eriogonum microthecum var. laxiflorum -

4. Thyme-leaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum thymoides -

5. Bitteroot: Lewisia rediviva -

* 6. Sagebrush Buttercup: Ranunculus glaberrimus - Numerous plants, many in large clumps near the summit.

* 7. Hornseed Buttercup: Ranunculus testiculatus - Abundant at lower elevations.

* 8. Bulblet Prairie-star: Lithophragma glabrum (formerly Lithophragma bulbifera) - In bud above, beginning to bloom below 2500'.

9. Wax Currant: Ribes cereum -

* 10. Woolly Pod Milk-vetch: Astragalus purshii - Several plants seen in bloom near the lower BLM boundary along the access road.

11. Bighead Clover: Trifolium macrocephalum - One in bloom, mostly in bud up to about the middle elvation of the butte.

* 12. Sagebrush Violet: Viola trinervata - Fairly numerous. Individuals with dark lower petals, lavender lower petals, white lower petals and pure albino plants were seen. This species has yet to peak at the lower elevations.

* 13. Canby's Desert Parsley: Lomatium canbyi - Fairly numerous, especially at higher elevations.

14. Geyer's Desert Parsley: Lomatium geyeri - Seen in grasslands at the summit.

15. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi - A few seen at all elevations.

16. Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum - Fairly numerous at low to mid elevations.

17. Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum - Numerous, although plants are much smaller than typical plants seen elsewhere.

* 18. Midget Phlox: Phlox gracilis (formerly Microsteris gracilis) - Beginning to bloom at lower elevations.

19. Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha - In bud.

20. Big Sagebrush: Artemisia tridentata var. wyomingensis -

* 21. Hooker's Balsamroot: Balsamhoriza hookeri - A few plants beginning to bloom below 2000'.

22. Arrowleaf Balsamroot: Balsamhoriza sagittata ? - A few plants seen with flower buds. Most plants barely have their leaves or flower buds emerged from the ground.

23. Dusty Maidens: Chaenactis douglasii - Basal leaves present.

24. Narrow-leaf Goldenweed: Stenotus stenophylla (formerly Haplopappus stenophyllus) - In bud.

25. False Agoseris: Nothocalais troximoides (formerly Microseris troximoides) - Basal leaves only.

Animals Seen at this Site:

Meadowlark

Horned Larks - Numerous.

Sagebrush Buttercups (Ranunculus glaberrimus) as seen near the summit of Selah Butte.....................March 22, 2008.
Paul Slichter