Purple Sweet-cicely
Osmorhiza purpurea
Synonyms: Osmorhiza chilensis var. purpurea, Osmorhiza leibergii, Washingtonia leibergii, Washingtonia purpurea
The photo above shows the fruit of common sweet-cicely
as seen at about 4100' abreast the ridge that separates the Dairy and Cougar
Creek drainages at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams...........July
10, 2005. Note the bristly hairs on the sides of the fruit and the distinctive
apex to the fruit, which looks like a broad triangular cap.
The photo above shows part of the inflorescence
(more typically with pinkish to purplish flowers) of purple sweet-cicely as
seen along road #8040 at about 3700' on the southern slopes of Mt. Adams.........May
28, 2005. The flower color is more reminiscent of common sweet-cicely, Osmorhiza
berteroi, but the maturing fruit at left with its broad cap at the base of the
style points to this being purple sweet-cicely.
Purple sweet-cicely as seen at 4100' atop the ridge dividing
the Cougar and Dairy Creek drainages on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams..........June
17, 2006.
The photo above shows the fruit of purple sweet-cicely as seen along the Shorthorn Trail #16 at Shorthorn Creek in the Mt. Adams Wilderness...........August 24, 2008.
Paul Slichter