[The Genus Lewisia in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia

Lewisia nevadensis

Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis

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.

Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia nevadensis (Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis)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.


Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia nevadensis (Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis) - 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 along trails atop Grizzly Peak, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument......May 27, 2021.

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..........June 29, 2023.

Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia nevadensis (Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis)

Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia nevadensis (Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis)

Nevada lewisia from Winter Ridge, Fremont N.F.........July12, 1998.

Nevada Bitter-root, Nevada Lewisia: Lewisia nevadensis (Synonyms: Calandrinia nevadensis, Claytonia grayana, Lewisia bernardina, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. nevadensis, Oreobroma nevadensis)


Paul Slichter