[The Barbery Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Inside-out-flower

Vancouveria hexandra

Close-up of the flower of Inside-out-flower, Northern Vancouveria, White Inside-out Flower: Vancouveria hexandra (Synonyms: Epimedium hexandrum, Vancouveria brevicula, Vancouveria picta)

The photo above shows a close-up of the distinct flower of inside-out-flower as seen along the Angels Rest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge.........May 12, 2005.

Inflorescence of Inside-out-flower, Northern Vancouveria, White Inside-out Flower: Vancouveria hexandra (Synonyms: Epimedium hexandrum, Vancouveria brevicula, Vancouveria picta) Characteristics:

Inside-out-flower is a rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial wildflower with leafless flower scapes from 20-40 cm high. The long-petiolate leaves are usually bi-triternately compound (occasionally triternate) with the shape of the leaflets reminiscent of ducks feet. The whole leaf ranges from 10-30 cm long with the leaflets somewhat heart-shaped with 3 lobes at the distal end of the leaf.

The inflorescence is an open panicle of 10-30 flowers (See photo at right.). The long, slender pedicels range from 15-40 mm long and are spreading at first then recurved downwards. The creamy white sepals and petals are 5-8 mm long and sharply reflexed backwards or upwards on the mostly pendant flowers (See photo above.). The stamens about equal in length to and tightly pressed to the pistil and measure 4-7 mm long. The filaments are white with the anthers yellow-orange and shaped like miniature spear tips. The fruits are dry, splitting capsules that are elliptical in shape and measure up to 1 cm long.

Habitat:

Inside-out-flower may be found in moist shady woods.

Range:

Inside-out-flower may be found west of the Cascade crest from Puget Sound south to northern California.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100-4500' from the Sandy River east to about Hood River, OR.

Uses or Importances:

Inside-out-flower is an attractive ornamental ground cover suitable for the woodland garden. The leaves are especially attractive and will generally persist into early winter during years with prolonged cold spells of below freezing weather. Plants should be readily available from native plant nurseries in localities west of the Cascade Mts.

Leaves of Inside-out-flower, Northern Vancouveria, White Inside-out Flower: Vancouveria hexandra (Synonyms: Epimedium hexandrum, Vancouveria brevicula, Vancouveria picta)

Paul Slichter