[The Saxifrage Family West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Bolandra, Northern False Coolwort, Oregon Bolandra

Bolandra oregana

Synonyms: Bolandra oregana var. imnahaensis, Bolandra oregana var. oregana

Bolandra, Northern False Coolwort, Oregon Bolandra: Bolandra oregana (Synonyms: Bolandra oregana var. imnahaensis, Bolandra oregana var. oregana)

Oregon bolandra from McCord Creek in the Columbia River Gorge..........May 1992.

Photo at right of Oregon bolandra from McCord Creek in the Columbia River Gorge..........May 1992.

Characteristics:

Oregon bolandra is a perennial with slender, erect or arching stems from 15-60 cm high. The herbage is glandular-hairy. The basal leaves are heart-shaped with shallow lobes which are further divided into small acute teeth. The leaves are thin, 3-7 cm wide, and have long slender petioles. The 2-4 stem leaves are reduced in size and have long stipules.

The inflorescence is a loose panicle with several side branchs,these each having 1-7 flowers. The calyx is globose at its base and narrowed above with a length of 5-8 mm. The 5 spreading petals are dark purple and linear in shape, and about equal in length to the calyx lobes.

Habitat:

Oregon bolandra may be found on moist shady cliffs, often near waterfalls.

Range:

Oregon bolandra may be found along the lower Willamette River, in the Columbia River Gorge and along the Snake and Imnaha Rivers in northeastern Oregon and adjacent Idaho.

Oregon Bolandra from McCord Creek in the Columbia River Gorge..........May 1992.

Bolandra, Northern False Coolwort, Oregon Bolandra: Bolandra oregana (Synonyms: Bolandra oregana var. imnahaensis, Bolandra oregana var. oregana)

Paul Slichter