Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia
Lewisia nevadensis
Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis
Nevada lewisia blooming in moist swales at High Prairie, Badger Creek Wilderness..........July 16, 2017. Note the long, oblanceolate leaves and the non-veined sepals lacking gland-tipped teeth (a characteristic of the similar
Lewisia pygmaea.
The
photo at right shows a close-up of the calyx and petals of Nevada lewisia as seen
at Memaloose, near Hat Point, Wallowa-Whitman N.F........July 8, 1999.
Note that the calyx tip is pointed with largely entire margins.
Characteristics:
Nevada lewisia is a diminutive perennial wildflower with one
to several flowering stems from 1-8 cm long arising from several to many linear
to oblanceolate leaves up to 15 cm long and 1-6 mm wide. Two opposite bracts
are found at midstem. The stems and leaves typically lack any hairs.
The flowers are single atop the flower stems with 2 lightly
veined, ovate-shaped sepals measuring from 5-10 mm long with mostly acute tips.
The margins of the sepals are usually entire. The 5-9 (usually 7) petals measure
6-17 mm long and are white, greenish-white, lavender or pink. Four to twelve
stamens are found within the flower while the style is divided into 3-6 branches.
Habitat:
Nevada lewisia may be found on moist to dry, gravelly to coarsely
sandy soils above treeline in the mountains.
Range:
Nevada lewisia may be found from the northern Cascade Mts. and
Olympic Mts. of Washington sout to southern California. Its range extends eastward
to eastern Oregon and Washington.
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Nevada lewisia blooming along trails atop Grizzly Peak, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument......May 27, 2021.
Nevada lewisia blooming in moist swales at High Prairie, Badger Creek Wilderness..........June 29, 2023.
Nevada lewisia from Winter Ridge, Fremont N.F.........July12,
1998.
Paul Slichter