[The Saxifrage Family in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Bigflower Tellima, Fragrant Fringecup, Fringe Cup, Large Fringecup
Tellima grandiflora
Synonyms: Mitella grandiflora, Tellima odorata
The photo above shows the flowers with their tattered petals
of fringecups as seen along the Angels Rest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge,
May12, 2005.
Characteristics:
Fringecup is an attractive perennial with leafy stems rising
30-90 cm from a basal cluster of leaves atop a decumbent rhizome. The basal
leaves are simple and roughly heart-shaped with several toothed lobes. The blades
are 5-10 cm wide and the hairy petiole is 10-20 cm long. The 2-3 stem leaves
are reduced in size and nearly sessile.
The inflorescence is a loose raceme bearing 6-35 cup-shaped
flowers. The calyx is 8-11 mm long. The petals are white, pink, or red (or even
green or brown), and are found at the lip of the cup or calyx. The petals are
pinnately divided into thin sections, hence providing the name fringe for fringecup.
There are 10 stamens.
Habitat:
Fringecups are found in moist forests and clearings, or along
streams at low to middle elevations. They tend to like rich soils with lots
of humus.
Range:
Fringecups may be found from southern Alaska south along the
coast and inland to the Cascade crest to just south of San Francisco, CA. They
may be found further inland across British Columbia to western Montana, northern
Idaho, and northeastern Washington.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations
of 100'-4200' from the western mouth of the gorge east to near Lyle, WA..
The photo above of shows fringecups as seen in forest at the Memaloose Rest Area along Interstate 84 (eastbound) in the Columbia River Gorge..........April 19, 2007.
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The photo above of shows a close-up of a basal leaf of fringecups as seen in forest at the Memaloose Rest Area along Interstate 84 (eastbound) in the Columbia River Gorge..........April 19, 2007. The photo at center shows the flowers of fringecups as seen on Hardy Ridge, Beacon Rock State Park..........April 20, 2015.
The photo at right shows a flower of fringecups as seen along the Latourell Falls Loop Trail, Guy W. Talbot State Park, Columbia River Gorge..........April 11, 2014.
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The 2 photos directly above shows the flowers
with their tattered petals and cup-shaped calyx of fringecups as seen along
the Angels Rest Trail in the Columbia River Gorge, May12, 2005.
Paul Slichter