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.

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.

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

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.

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

Pygmy lewisia as seen at left in moist meadows along the Climber's Trail near the southern head of Hellroaring Valley, southeastern corner of Mount Adams...........August 12, 2013. The photo at right shows pygmy lewisia post bloom with developing fruits as seen in dry meadows along the Divide Camp Trail #112 near the junction with the trail to Divide Camp, Mount Adams Wilderness.....August 22, 2022.

Pygmy lewisia as seen in moist swales along the upper mile of the Divide Creek Trail, Mt. Adams Wilderness.........August 6, 2017.

Pygmy lewisia as seen in moist swales in upper Killen Creek Meadows, Mt. Adams Wilderness.........August 4, 2022.

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