[The Genus Plectritis in the Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]

Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush

Plectritis ciliosa

Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera

Close-up of the inflorescence of Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera) - Close-up of several flowers of Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera)

Additional close-up images of the inflorescence of long-spurred plectritis as seen at the Four Sisters northwest of The Dalles, Oregon...........April 21, 2013.
Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera)The photo at right depicts long-spurred plectritis from the 3 Bench Loop Trail, east of Lyle, WA.....late March, 2001.
Characteristics:

Long-spurred Plectritis is a small, slender annual with erect stems from 10-60 cm high. The herbage is usually glabrous or lacking hairs. The leaves are opposite with the lower leaves spatulate or obovate in shape with short petioles while the upper leaves are oblong to elliptic in shape and lacking petioles. The leaves range from 1-6 cm long and 3-22 mm wide.

The flowers are two-lipped and deep pink in color wtih two red dots at the base of the middle lobe of the lower lip. The spur is long and slender, and is much longer than that found in Plectritis congesta or Plectritis macrocera. The corolla ranges from 2-8 mm long.

Habitat:

Long-spurred Plectritis may be found on seasonally moist slopes and meadows.

Range:

Long-spurred Plectritis may be found from Klickitat County, WA south through western Oregon to California.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-1200' between the White Salmon River and Dallesport, WA.

Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera)

Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera)

Additional close-up images of long-spurred plectritis as seen on the southeastern slopes of Sevenmile Hill several miles northwest of The Dalles, Oregon...........April 12, 2015.

Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera) - Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera)

Long-spurred plectritis as observed in vernally moist swales at Columbia Hills Historical State Park between the Crawford Oaks and Dalles Mt. Ranch trailheads......April 9, 2018.
Longspur Seablush, Long-spurred Plectritis, Long-spurred Seablush: Plectritis ciliosa (Synonyms: Plectritis ciliosa ssp. ciliosa, Plectritis ciliosa ssp. insignis, Plectritis macrocera var. macroptera)
Long-spurred plectritis from the 3 Bench Loop Trail, east of Lyle, WA.......late March, 2001.
Paul Slichter