Characteristics:
Fringecup is an attractive perennial with leafy stems rising 30-90 cm from a basal cluster of leaves atop a decumbent rhizome. The basal leaves are simple and roughly heart-shaped with several toothed lobes. The blades are 5-10 cm wide and the hairy petiole is 10-20 cm long. The 2-3 stem leaves are reduced in size and nearly sessile.
The inflorescence is a loose raceme bearing 6-35 cup-shaped flowers. The calyx is 8-11 mm long. The petals are white, pink, or red (or even green or brown), and are found at the lip of the cup or calyx. The petals are pinnately divided into thin sections, hence providing the name fringe for fringecup. There are 10 stamens.
Fringecups are found in moist forests and clearings, or along streams at low to middle elevations. They tend to like rich soils with lots of humus.
Fringecups may be found from southern Alaska south along the coast and inland to the Cascade crest to just south of San Francisco, CA. They may be found further inland across British Columbia to western Montana, northern Idaho, and northeastern Washington.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-4200' from the western mouth of the gorge east to near Lyle, WA..
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Paul Slichter