[Drabas and Whitlow-grasses: The Genus Draba in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Alkali Cusickiella, Douglas' Draba
Cusickiella douglasii
Synonyms: Draba douglasii, Draba douglasii var. crockeri
Douglas' draba as seen in the Columbia Hills in the eastern Columbia
River Gorge.........March 17, 2007. Note the numerous hairs on the margins
of the leaves to the upper left of the flowers.
Characteristics:
Douglas' draba is a low, matted perennial with short stems from
1-2 cm high, the stems covered with old leaves at the base. Individual leaves
are thick,leathery, and rigid, the earlier leaves spatulate and 5-7 mm long
and the later oblanceolate in shape and u to 14 mm long. They are somewhat concave
above with a stout midrib. The herbage consists of simple and forked hairs,
or the leaves may occasionally be glabrous.
The racemes are 2-10 flowered. The flowers are white with four
petals from 4-6 mm long. The fruits are somewhat inflated silicles which are
ovoid, leathery and 3-7 mm long. They are covered with short simple hairs.
Habitat:
Douglas' draba may be found on open rocky ridges among sagebrush
and grasses.
Range:
Douglas' draba may be found from south-central Washington to
central and southeastern (Steens Mt.) Oregon, and south to central Nevada.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found in the Columbia
Hills.
Douglas' draba as seen in the Columbia Hills in the eastern Columbia River Gorge.........early March 2005. Note the numerous hairs on the margins of the leaves.
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Douglas' draba as seen in the Columbia Hills in the eastern Columbia River Gorge.........March 17, 2007.
Note the spreading hairs along the margins of the leaves.
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Douglas' draba blooming in the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge.....April 5, 2023.
Douglas' draba in fruit.
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Douglas' draba blooming in the Columbia Hills of the eastern Columbia River Gorge........March 5, 2015.
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Douglas' draba blooming in the Columbia Hills of the eastern Columbia River Gorge.............April 3, 2013.
Flower buds opening on Douglas' drag as seen in the Columbia Hills, Columbia River Gorge.......March 23, 2021.
Paul Slichter