Pacific Starflower (Trientalis borealis)

The stem is so thin it appears the blossom is hovering in mid air!

The stem is so thin it appears the blossom is hovering in mid air!

Trientalis borealis

pacific starflower

Description:

  • Stems 4-20 cm.

  • Leaves mostly whorled at stem apex, some alternate on proximal stem; blades of distal leaves lanceolate to lanceolate-elliptic, (proximal leaves abruptly much smaller, scale-like), apex acute to acuminate. Pedicels (a small stalk bearing an individual flower) shorter than leaves, usually sparsely stipitate-glandular (having glands that are on stalks). Flowers: corolla white, 5.5-8(-10) mm, lobes ovate to narrowly lanceolate, apex acute to acuminate

  • Rarity: locally common

  • Flowering time: late Spring to early Summer

  • life cycle: Perennial

  • Height: 4 to 8 inches

  • Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest

  • Found in: West Gorge, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Olympic Np, Crater Lake Np

  • Native: Yes

Source: Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

Additional Resource: Oregon Flora Project

False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum)

One of the few fragrant flowers native to Silver Falls! False Solomon’s Seal can be distinguished from Solomon’s Seal by the feather-like blossoms at the end of the stems rather than blooms along the underside of the stem.

One of the few fragrant flowers native to Silver Falls! False Solomon’s Seal can be distinguished from Solomon’s Seal by the feather-like blossoms at the end of the stems rather than blooms along the underside of the stem.

  • Stem upright, unbranched, usually arched with cluster of flowers at end, showy flowers and berries

  • Leaves alternate, sessile or clasping stem, oblong with pointed tips, 3 to 8 inches long, hairless above.

  • Flowers are 20 or more, small, white, in tight panicle 2 to 5 inches long. Berries are green with brown mottling when young, turning bright red with age.

  • Similar but smaller M. stellatum has flowers held in small raceme with 10 or fewer flowers, berries dark blue to reddish black.

  • Rarity: Common

  • Flowering Time: Mid Spring

  • Life Cycle: Perennial

  • Height: 12 to 37 inches

  • Habitat: Moist Woods , Sea Leavel To Mid Elevations, Coastal, West-Side Forest Grows in moist places in forests at low to mid-elevations.

  • Found In: Alaska To Ca, Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Crater Lake Np, Wallowas, Steens, Siskiyous, West Gorge

  • Native: Yes

Source: Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

Additional resource: Oregon Flora Project

Inside-out Flower (Vancouveria hexandra)

This low growing ground cover plant is also called Duckfeet because the leaves are shaped like duck’s feet. The tiny flowers are some of the most interesting as they are designed inside-out.

This low growing ground cover plant is also called Duckfeet because the leaves are shaped like duck’s feet. The tiny flowers are some of the most interesting as they are designed inside-out.

Spreading from underground stems. Long basal stems hold pinnately compound deciduous leaves, with 3 leaflets in each of 2–3 divisions. Leaflets square to heart-shaped, top surface hairless, slightly hairy underneath, stem turning light in color with age. Flower stalk hairless, above leaves, bearing whorls of long-stalked, small, white, nodding flowers. Flowers in parts of 6, petals bent backward, flared out, looking inside out. Grows in deep shade in conifer forests at low to mid-elevations. The taller redwood ivy, V. planipetala, with hairy flower stalks, grows in California, southern Oregon. Siskiyou inside-out flower, V. chrysantha, in the Siskiyou Mountains, has yellow flowers.

  • Rarity: Locally Common

  • Flowering Time: Early Summer

  • Life Cycle: Perennial

  • Height: 8--16 inches

  • Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest

  • Found In: West Gorge, Crater Lake Np, Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Siskiyous

  • Native: Yes

Source: Spreading from underground stems. Long basal stems hold pinnately compound deciduous leaves, with 3 leaflets in each of 2–3 divisions. Leaflets square to heart-shaped, top surface hairless, slightly hairy underneath, stem turning light in color with age. Flower stalk hairless, above leaves, bearing whorls of long-stalked, small, white, nodding flowers. Flowers in parts of 6, petals bent backward, flared out, looking inside out. Grows in deep shade in conifer forests at low to mid-elevations. The taller redwood ivy, V. planipetala, with hairy flower stalks, grows in California, southern Oregon. Siskiyou inside-out flower, V. chrysantha, in the Siskiyou Mountains, has yellow flowers.

  • Rarity: Locally Common

  • Flowering Time: Early Summer

  • Life Cycle: Perennial

  • Height: 8--16 inches

  • Habitat: Coastal, West-Side Forest

  • Found In: West Gorge, Crater Lake Np, Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Siskiyous

  • Native: Yes

Pacific Rhododendron (Rhododendron macrophyllum)

Rhododendron June 2 2020.jpg

Source: Large shrub with erect and spreading branches and thick twigs. Leaves evergreen, 3–8 in. long, oblong, leathery, entire, with sunken midvein, upper side dark green. Flowers pink to rose-purple, 1–1 1/2 in.; 5 petals fused at base form a wide shallow bell with tips spreading wide. Grows in moist to dry coniferous forests from coast to high elevations. State flower of Washington.

  • Rarity: Locally Common

  • Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer

  • Life Cycle: Perennial

  • Height: 3--15 feet

  • Habitat: West-Side Forest, Coastal

  • Found In: West Gorge, Olympic Np

  • Native: Yes

Largeleaf Avens (Geum macrophyllum)

This mid height perennial plant starts blooming in the spring and continues all summer long. Very common along the trails at Silver Falls State Park.

Large+Leaf+Avens+June+2+2020.jpg

Geum macrophyllum

Larged-leaved avens

Description:

  • Erect, hairy. Basal leaves with long erect petioles, a more or less heart-shaped terminal leaflet many times larger than the variously sized small leaflets below;

  • stem leaves usually sessile, deeply lobed to 3 lobes.

  • Flowers 3–10 at top, with 5 nearly round yellow petals, many stamens.

  • Grows in streambanks, edges of woods, moist meadows, usually at low elevations, but can grow to subalpine.

  • Variation macrophyllum with the terminal leaflet of basal leaves shallowly lobed, all leaves finely toothed.

  • Variation perincisum grows east of Cascades, has terminal leaflet of basal leaf more deeply lobed.

  • Rarity: Common

  • Flowering Time: All of Spring And Summer

  • Life Cycle: Perennial

  • Height: 1 to 3 feet

  • Habitat: Meadow, West-Side Forest, East-Side Forest, Moist Riverbanks

  • Found In: Olympic Np, Mt. Rainier Np, N Cascades Np, Crater Lake Np, Wallowas, Steens, Siskiyous, West Gorge

  • Native: Yes

Source: Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

Additional resource: Oregon Flora Project