Dwarf Hesperochiron, Dwarf Monkey-fiddle

Dwarf hesperochiron is a small spring blooming perennial from 5 cm to 10 cm in height. The leaves are smooth and green, with ciliate margins, occasionally with short spreading hairs on the upper leaf surface. This species generally has one to five flowers, with the corolla white or white with puplish linear markings running parallel to the axis of the petals. Individual flowers are saucer-shaped or rotate, with the lobes or free parts of the petals much longer than the central tube. Individual flowers are from 1.5 to 3 cm wide. The central tube is densely yellow haired.

Dwarf hesperochiron is similar to California hesperochiron Hesperochiron californicus, although the latter usually has more flowers (greater than 5) which are campanulate or funnelform, with the lobes about the same length as the tube. The latter plant also is found in more alkaline areas in the foothills and valleys.

Dwarf Hesperochiron is plant of moist, open slopes, meadows, and swales. It may be found in the valley bottoms, but is more common in the uplands......the foothills and well up into the mountains. Where it occurs, it is frequently very numerous.

Hesperochiron pumilus is found wholly east of the Cascade Mt. range, from central Washington south through Oregon to California, and eastward to the western edge of Montana, then south to Utah, Colorado, and Arizona.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it is found in swales south of The Dalles, OR.