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

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia

Lewisia pygmaea

Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum

Close-up of the sepals of Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

The photo above shows a close-up of the gland-tipped sepals and long white petals of pygmy lewisia as seen from Horseshoe Meadows at the southwest corner of Mt. Adams.........July 27, 2006.
Characteristics:

Pygmy lewisia is a diminutive perennial wildflower with one to several flowering stems from 1-8 cm long arising from several to many linear leaves up to 8 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 , ovate-shaped sepals measuring from 2-5 mm long with mostly rounded tips. The margins of the sepals are usually tipped with forward pointing teeth. 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:

Pygmy lewisia may be found on moist to dry, gravelly to coarsely sandy soils above treeline in the mountains.

Range:

Pygmy lewisia may be found from the northern Cascade Mts. and Olympic Mts. of Washington south to southern California. Its range extends eastward to Montana and hence south to New Mexico and Arizona.

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum) - Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum) - Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

Pygmy lewisia as seen in Gotchen Creek Meadows, southeastern Mt. Adams, Gifford Pinchot National Forest............August 8, 2012.

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

Pygmy lewisia as seen in moist meadows along the Climber's Trail near the southern head of Hellroaring Valley, southeastern corner of Mount Adams...........August 12, 2013.

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum) - Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

The two photos directly above show views of pygmy lewisia as seen amongst meadow grasses and other plants at Horseshoe Meadows.......July 27, 2006.

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

Pygmy lewisia blooming in swales in a meadow on the north side of the South Fork Conrad Creek next to an old pack trail that heads north from the South Fork to North Fork Conrad Creek, Goat Rocks Wilderness........July 22, 2016.

Alpine Lewisia, Alpine Bitter-root, Dwarf Lewisia, Pygmy Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea (Synonyms: Calandrinia grayi, Calandrinia pygmaea, Lewisia exarticulata, Lewisia glandulosa, Lewisia minima, Lewisia pygmaea var. aridorum, Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea, Lewisia pygmaeum, Lewisia pygmaeum var. aridorum, Lewisia sierrae, Oreobroma aridorum, Oreobroma pygmaeum, Talinum pygmaeum)

Pygmy lewisia as seen on northwest-facing slopes between Tiffamy Lake and Middle Tiffany Mountain, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.......July 28, 2018.
Paul Slichter