[Wildflower Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington:: 2009]

Wildflowers Currently in Bloom in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington

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

April 1, 2009

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.

* indicates the plant is currently in bloom.

Bracken Fern: Pteridium aquilinum ssp. pubescens

Ponderosa Pine: Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa

Douglas Fir: Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii

Oregon White Oak: Quercus garryana var. garryana

Tapertip Onion: Allium accuminatum - Basal leaves only.

* Pale-anthered Glacier Lily: Erythronium grandiflorumvar. pallidum

* Yellow Bells: Fritillaria pudica

Panicled Death Camas: Toxicoscordion paniculatum

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

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

Heartleaf Buckwheat: Eriogonum compositum var. compositum

Meadow Larkspur: Delphinium distichum

Upland Larkspur: Delphinium nuttallianum - Some with flower buds forming

* Western Buttercup: Ranunculus occidentalis var. occidentalis

* Unidentified Buttercup: Ranunculus sp. 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.

Creeping Oregon Grape: Berberis repens

* Oaks Toothwort: Cardamine nuttallii

* Spring Whitlow-grass: Draba verna - Numerous.

* Bulblet Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum (Synonym: Lithophragma bulbifera)

* Smooth Prairie Star: Lithophragma glabrum

* Clayton's Saxifrage, Northwestern Saxifrage: Micranthes fragosa - In bud.

Annual Burnet: Poteridium annuum

Litle Wild Rose: Rosa gymnocarpa

Trailing Blackberry: Rubus ursinus

Hood River Milkvetch: Astragalus hoodianus - Numerous mounds of leaves emerging from the ground.

Broad-leaf Lupine: Lupinus latifolius var. latifolius

Mahala Mat: Ceanothus prostratus