[The Genus Plectritis in the
Columbia River Gorge of Oregon and Washington]
Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush
Plectritis congesta
Synonyms: Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta, Plectritis congesta var. major, Plectritis congesta ssp. nitida, Valerianella congesta
The photo above shows a close-up view of the slender bracts beneath the flower
head of rosy plectritis as seen at Catherine Creek.........April
9, 2006. Note the long, narrow corolla tube and broad spreading lobes
The photo at right shows a close-up view of the inflorescence of rosy plectritis as seen at Catherine Creek.........April 9, 2006.
Characteristics:
Rosy Plectritis is a slender, single-stemmed annual from 10-60
cm tall. The herbage is mostly smooth. The leaves are opposite on the stem,
with the lowest oblong with petioles, the upper elliptic in shape and sessile.
The leaves range from 1-6 cm long and 3-22 mm wide.
The species name refers to the inflorescence of congested flowers,
which form a tightly packed globe of flowers at the apex of the stem. The corolla
of the flowers are pink or white, nearly campanulate, 4.5-9.5 mm long, and strongly
two-lipped. The upper pair of petals are strongly fused while the lower trio
are distinctly separate. A thick spur is also evident.
Habitat:
Rosy Plectritis may be found on open, seasonally moist slopes
and meadows.
Range:
Rosy Plectritis may be found from southern Vancouver Island
along the western crest of the Cascades to southern California.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations
of 100'-2400' from Troutdale, OR east to east of Lyle, WA.
The photo above shows a close-up of a stem leaf of rosy plectritis............April 9, 2006.
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Additional close-up views of the inflorescence of rosy plectritis as seen in a riparian area part way down the face of Coyote Wall, mid-Columbia River Gorge.............April 15, 2010.
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Close-up sideview of the flower of rosy plectritis as seen at left Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge........May 10, 2009.
The photo at right shows rosy plectritis blooming at Catherine Creek in the Columbia River Gorge........Mrch 25, 2022.
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Rosy plectritis blooming at left at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge..........May 2, 2014. A white-flowered individual is quite rarely seen, at least in the Gorge. The photo at right shows a habitat view of rosy plectritis as seen at Catherine Creek.........April 19, 2017.
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Rosy plectritis blooming at left at Panacanic in western Klickitat County..........May 17, 2013. The photo at center shows rosy plectritis blooming at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge.....March 17, 2021 The photo at right shows a profile view of rosy
plectritis, giving the reader a general idea as to its form. Note the lower
leaves which often whither by flower time and the sparse roots. Photographed
at Catherine Creek..........April 9, 2006..
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Rosy plectris as seen at left along the Starvation Creek Ridge Trail #414 on a grassy slope under the powerlines directly east of Warren Creek, Columbia River Gorge.........April 26, 2015. The photo at right shows rosy plectritis blooming near the top of the basalt arch at Catherine Creek, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.......April 15, 2023.
Paul Slichter