[Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge: 2009]

Wildflowers Currently in Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge

Klickitat State Wildlife Recreation Area (from the Glenwood-Goldendale Highway)

April 1, 2009

Mystery Buttercup: Hybrid between Ranunculus glaberrimus and Ranunculus tridentatus?

A view of a mystery buttercup seen in the Klickitat Wildlife Recreation Area. A few plants are similar in appearance to obscure buttercup (Ranunculus tridentatus), but most seem to be intermediate in form between the latter species and the sagebrush buttercup (Ranunculus glaberrimus).

Today the weather was in the mid 30s with light snow showers in the morning with light, intermittent drizzle in the afternoon.

1. Bracken Fern: Pteridium aquilinum -

2. Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa -

3. Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii -

4. Oregon White Oak: Quercus garryana -

5. Tapertip Onion: Allium accuminatum - ? Basal leaves only.

* 6. Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorum -

* 7. Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica -

8. Meadow Death Camas: Zigadenus venenosus - ?

* 9. Grass Widows: Olsynium douglasii - Beginning to bloom.

10. Rein Orchid: Piperia (elegans or unalaschensis) - Basal leaves only.

11. Heartleaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum compositum var. compositum -

12. Meadow Larkspur: Delphinium burkei -

13. Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum - Some with flower buds forming

* 14. Western Buttercup: Ranunculus occidentalis -

* 15. Obscure Buttercup: Ranunculus trisectus (Synonym: Ranunculus reconditus) or perhaps a cross with Ranunculus glaberrimus? - The photos shown from this link show this buttercup as seen at this location as well as comparisons to both the obscure buttercup and sagebrush buttercup.

16. Creeping Oregon Grape: Berberis repens - ?

* 17. Oaks Toothwort: Cardamine nuttallii -

* 18. Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna var. boerhaavii - Numerous.

* 19. Bulblet Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonym: Lithophragma bulbifera) -

* 20. Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonym: Lithophragma glabra) -

* 21. Clayton's Saxifrage, Northwestern Saxifrage: Saxifraga integrifolia var. claytoniaefolia - In bud.

22. Litle Wild Rose: Rosa gymnocarpa -

23. Trailing Blackberry: Rubus ursinus -

24. Annual Burnet: Sanguisorba annua -

25. Milkvetch: Astragalus (hoodianus or reventiformis) - Numerous mounds of leaves emerging from the ground.

26. Lupine: Lupinus sp. -

27. Mahala Mat: Ceanothus prostratus -

* 28. Sagebrush Violet: Viola trinervata - Beginning to bloom.

* 29. Columbia Desert Parsley: Lomatium columbianum -

* 30. Pungent Desert Parsley: Lomatium grayi -

* 31. Salt and Pepper: Lomatium piperi - or gormanii

* 32. Biscuitroot: Lomatium macrocarpum - Yellow-flowered form.

33. Barestem Desert Parsley: Lomatium nudicaule -

34. Suksdorf's Desert Parsley: Lomatium suksdorfii - Leaves barely emerging from the ground.

35. Kinnickinick: Arctostaphylos nevadensis -

36. Pinedrops: Pterospora andromedea -

37. Creek Dogwood: Cornus sericea (var. ?) -

* 38. Hesperochiron: Hesperochiron pumilus -

39. Ballhead Desert Parsley: Hydrophyllum capitatum (var. thompsonii?) -

* 40. Meadow Nemophila: Nemophila pedunculata -

41. Self Heal: Prunella vulgaris -

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

43. Common Mullein: Verbascum thapsus -

44. Cleavers, Annual Bedstraw: Galium aparine -

45. Yarrow: Achillea millefolium -

46. Spearleaf Agoseris: Agoseris retrorsa -

47. Low Pussytoes: Antennaria dimorpha -

* 48. Gold Stars: Crocidium multicaule - Fairly numerous on upper south-facing slopes.

49. False Agoseris: Nothocalais troximoides -

Animals Seen During This Hike:

Northern Flickers

Canyon Wren

Western Bluebirds

Dark-eyed Juncos

Paul Slichter