[Corn-salads and Plectritis: The Genus Plectritis West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush

Plectritis congesta

Synonyms: Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta, Plectritis congesta ssp. nitida, Plectritis congesta var. major, Plectritis samolifolia, Valerianella congesta

Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush: Plectritis congesta - Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush: Plectritis congesta (Synonyms: Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta, Plectritis congesta ssp. nitida, Plectritis congesta var. major, Plectritis samolifolia, Valerianella congesta)

Rosy plectritis as seen at left atop Saddle Mountain in the Coast Range of northwestern Oregon......June 14, 2009. The photo at right shows rosy plectritis at Rough and Ready Botanical Wayside (BLM)......April 5, 2022.

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 south to southern California from the coast to the Cascade crest.


Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush: Plectritis congesta (Synonyms: Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta, Plectritis congesta ssp. nitida, Plectritis congesta var. major, Plectritis samolifolia, Valerianella congesta) - Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush: Plectritis congesta (Synonyms: Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta, Plectritis congesta ssp. nitida, Plectritis congesta var. major, Plectritis samolifolia, Valerianella congesta) - Rosy Plectritis, Sea Blush, Shortspur Seablush: Plectritis congesta (Synonyms: Plectritis congesta ssp. congesta, Plectritis congesta ssp. nitida, Plectritis congesta var. major, Plectritis samolifolia, Valerianella congesta)

Close-up views of rosy plectritis as seen on thicker soils amongst numerous vernally moist swales at Agate Desert Preserve northwest of Medford, Oregon.......April 28, 2012.

Paul Slichter