[The Mustard Family in the Columbia River Gorge]
Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod

Idahoa scapigera

Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum

Basal leaves and seed pods of Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum)

Scale pod as seen near the crest of the Columbia Hills in the eastern Columbia River Gorge..........early April, 2005.
Seed pod of Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum) Pod of Idahoa scapigera at right, from lower Deschutes River, OR.....March 22, 1997.
Characteristics:

Scale pod is is a minute wildflower that would be easily overlooked if it weren't for its interesting seed pods. The several stems rise from 3-13 cm in height from a basal rosette of leaves. The leaves have long, thin petioles which are about 1-3 times longer than the ovate blades. The leaf margins may either be entire or lyrate and the leaves are from 5-15 mm long.

The 4 sepals are red or purple, from 1.5-2 mm long. The 4 white petals are about the same length as the sepals. The seed pods are oblong-oval to almost round silicles, from 6-12 mm wide. As seen in the photo at right, the broad surface of the capsules may be marked with small purple-brown blotches. Scale pod is one of the early spring bloomers, blooming from March to April.

Habitat:

Scale pod is found on open ground, usually in grasslands, among sagebrush in the valleys and foothills.

Range:

Scale pod is found entirely east of the Cascade Mts. from Washington to California and east to Idaho and Nevada.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found from Bingen, WA east to haystack Butte, between the elevations of 100'-3000'.

Basal leaves of Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum)

The photo above shows a young scale pod which is just beginning to bloom. The flowers of this species are very small and easy to miss. Photographed from basalt scablands along the old highway about one mile east of Celilo, OR................February 12, 2006.

Basal leaves of Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum)

The photo above shows the basal cluster of leaves and many flower scapes of scale pod as seen near the crest of the Columbia Hills in the eastern Columbia River Gorge............early April, 2005.

Close-up of the pods of Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum) - Close-up of the pod of Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum)

Close-ups of the seed pods of scale pod as seen in upper Swale Canyon, Klickitat County...............May 8, 2010.

Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum) --- Flatpod, Oldstem Idahoa, Scalepod, Scale Pod: Idahoa scapigera (Synonym: Platyspermum scapigerum)

Two close-up views of scale pod as seen in bloom at a rock outcrop on the west side of Interstate 84 just northwest of the Chenoweth Exit outside The Dalles, OR....................February 14, 2009. In bloom, this species is barely noticeable as the flowers don't open much more than seen here. The plants are more easily seen later in the season when the attractive fruits develop.
Paul Slichter