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Historic,  archived  document 

Do  not  assume  content  reflects  current 
scientific  knowledge,  policies,  or  practices. 


Willamette  National  Forest 


SENSITIVE  PLANT 
FIELD  GUIDE 


C 


by 

JENNIFER  DIMLING,  BOTANIST 
Willamette  National  Forest 


U  S  DfcP  QFAGRTCUU 
NATIONAL  /MGRICULTtJHRAL 


NOV  4 1991 


i  _ 

..  y.  iimiiiTW  I  mfiii 

CATALOGING  Pfttf 


APRIL  1991 


USDA  •  Forest  Service 
Pacific  Northwest  Region 


R6-WILL-004-91 


V 


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 


Special  thanks  are  due  to  many  people  who  helped  in  creating  this  publication: 
Irene  Stumpf,  Graphic  Artist;  Lorette  Ray-Laferriere,  Public  Affairs; 
District  Botanists  -  Mike  Roantree,  Alice  Smith,  Carolyn  Close, 

Mike  McCabe,  and  Evelyn  Everett. 

I’d  like  to  also  thank  all  who  lent  me  photos. 


INTRODUCTION 


This  booklet  is  intended  to  be  a  semi-technical  guide  to  the  status  and  identity  of  the 
sensitive  plant  species  found  on  Willamette  NF.  It  is  a  compilation  of  material  from  status 
lists,  handbooks  on  the  rare  plants  of  Oregon  and  existing  reports  and  sightings  found  in 
the  Supervisor’s  Office  files.  The  handbook  is  meant  to  be  updated  as  new  information  and 
status  listings  become  available.  Hopefully,  all  members  of  the  USFS  will  use  this  book  as 
a  reference  tool. 


The  USFS  manual  states  that  employees  of  the  Agency  shall  seek  to  conserve  plants 
according  to  the  1973  Endangered  Species  Act  and  to  (1)  maintain  at  least  viable  popula¬ 
tions  of  all  existing  native  plants,  (2)  assist  in  identification  and  recovery  of  threatened  and 
endangered  plants  and  (3)  avoid  actions  which  may  cause  a  species  to  become  threatened 
or  endangered. 

Our  Sensitive  Plant  List  is  taken  from  the  Region  6  U.S.  Forest  Service  1991  Sensitive 
Plant  List.  Each  plant  on  the  Regional  list  is  rated  or  given  a  status  by  three  agencies: 
Federal  (US  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  through  the  Federal  Review),  State  (Oregon  Depart¬ 
ment  of  Agriculture)  and  Oregon  Natural  Heritage  Data  Base. 


Federal:  The  Endangered  Species  Act  proposes  three  status  categories: 

species  listed  as  threatened  or  endangered,  species  proposed  for 
listing,  and  candidate  species  for  proposal  to  list.  Only  listed  and 
proposed  species  are  legally  protected  on  federal  land.  We  have  no 
listed  or  proposed  threatened  or  endangered  species  on  the  forest, 
only  candidate  species.  There  are  3  categories  for  candidate  spe¬ 
cies: 


Category  1 
Category  2 
Category  3 


Taxa  for  which  the  USFWS  has  sufficient  information  to  support  the 
proposal  to  list  as  endangered  or  threatened. 

Taxa  which  need  additional  information  (further  research)  to  be  able 
to  propose  the  plant  as  threatened  or  endangered. 

Taxa  no  longer  being  considered  for  listing  as  threatened  or  endan¬ 
gered  because: 

A-extinct 

B-not  taxonomically  valid 

C-  taxa  is  more  abundant  and  widespread  than  was  originally 
thought  and/or  those  not  subject  to  any  identifiable  threat 


Status  presented  is  based  on  the  2/1990  Federal  Register  Notice  of  Review. 

State:  All  plants  in  any  of  the  following  categories  are  protected  on  state- 

owned  lands  by  Oregon  HB  533.  The  USFS  Handbook  states  that 
employees  should  cooperate  and  consult  with  state  agencies. 


List  1 : 

Endangered: 


List  2: 

Threatened: 


Any  native  plant  species  determined  to  be  in  danger  of  extinction 
throughout  all  or  any  significant  portion  of  its  range  or  those  listed  as 
endangered  on  the  Federal  list 

Any  plant  species  determined  likely  to  become  endangered  within 
the  foreseeable  future  throughout  all  or  any  significant  portion  of  its 
range 


Candidate:  Any  plant  species  designated  for  study,  whose  numbers  are  believed 

low  or  declining,  or  whose  habitat  is  sufficiently  threatened  and 
declining  in  quantity  and  quality,  so  as  to  potentially  qualify  for  listing 
as  a  threatened  or  endangered  species  in  the  foreseeable  future 


Status  is  based  on  a  list  updated  in  February  of  1991 . 

Oregon  Natural  Heritage  Data  Base: 

In  accordance  with  USFS  Manual  8/90  Supplement  (2670.44),  the 
Region  shall  cooperate  with  State  Heritage  Programs  when  formulat¬ 
ing  and  changing  the  Regional  Forester’s  Sensitive  Plant  Species 
List. 


List  1 :  Threatened  or  endangered  throughout  range 

List  2:  Threatened  or  endangered  in  Oregon,  more  stable  elsewhere 

Status  is  based  on  a  list  updated  in  November  of  1990. 

There  are  7  Ranger  Districts  (RD)  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  In  order  to  save 
space,  the  districts  will  be  referred  to  in  a  2-letter  code: 

SH:  Sweet  Home 
MK:  McKenzie 
BR:  Blue  River 
Rl:  Rigdon 
DE:  Detroit 
OA:  Oakridge 
LO:  Lowell 


TABLE  OF  SENSITIVE  SPECIES 


Species 

Known  on 

WNF 

Fed 

STATUS 

State 

ONHDB 

Agosen's  elata 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Allium  campanulatum 

no 

- — 

— 

2 

Arnica  viscosa 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Asplenium  septentrionale 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Aster  gormanii 

SH,  DE 

C2 

C 

1 

Astragalus  umbraticus 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Botrychium  minganense 

SH 

— 

— 

2 

Botrychium  pumicola 

no 

Cl 

c 

1 

Calamagrostis  breweri 

DE 

— 

— 

2 

Campanula  scabrella 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Carex  livida 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Cimicifuga  elata 

SH,  LO 

— 

c 

1 

Frasera  umpquaensis 

LO,  OA 

C2 

c 

1 

Gentiana  newberryi 

MK 

— 

— 

2 

Hieracium  bolanderi 

Rl 

— 

— 

2 

Lycopodium  inundatum 

BR,  SH 

— 

— 

2 

Lycopodium  selago 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Ophioglossum  vulgatum 

BR,  MK,  SH 

— 

— 

2 

Oxypolis  occidentalis 

BR 

— 

— 

2 

Pellaea  andromedaefolia 

no 

— 

— 

2 

Poa  laxiflora 

no 

— 

— 

1 

Polystichum  californicum 

SH 

— 

— 

2 

Romanzoffia  thompsonii 

SH,  OA,  DE,  LO 

BR,  Rl,  MK 

— 

— 

1 

Scheuchzeria  palustris 

BR,  SH,  OA 

— 

— 

2 

Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum 

no 

C2 

c 

1 

Utricularia  minor 

OA,  BR 

— 

— 

2 

Wolffia  columbiana 

no 

— 

— 

2 

• 

SENSITIVE  SPECIES  BY  HABITAT 


Habitat 


Location 


Phenology 


Mesic  Meadows 


Calamagrostis  breweri 

streambanks,  lake  margins 
moist  meadows 

DE:  6.000'1 

July-Sept. 

Frasera  umpquaensis 

meadows  and  open  woods 

LO,  OA:  4,200-4,600’ 

July-Aug. 

Gentiana  newberryi 

moist  meadows 

MK:  4,700’ 

Aug-Sept. 

Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum 

meadows 

(Mt.  Hood  NF;  low  elevation) 

June-July 

Wet  Meadows/Bog 

Carex  livida 

bogs  and  swamps  at  low 
elevations  (Mt.  Hood  NF) 

May-July 

Lycopodium  inundatum 

sphagnum  bog 

SH,  BR:  4,050-4,200' 

Ophioglossum  vulgatum 

boggy  meadows,  open  woods 
and  vernal  pools 

SH,  BR:  1,400-5,200’ 

July-Sept. 

Oxypolis  occidentalis 

mountain  springs  and  bogs 

BR:  4,200’ 

July-Aug. 

Scheuchzeria  palustris 

sphagnum  bogs  and  lake  margins 
SH,  OA,  BR:  3,500-  4,500’ 

May-July 

Ponds 

Utricularia  minor 

standing  or  slowly-moving 
water  at  mid  to  high 
elevation 

OA,  BR:  4,200' 

June-August 

Wolffia  columbiana 

floating  below  surface 

Elevations  given  are  those  found  in  populations  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest. 


SENSITIVE  SPECIES  BY  HABITAT 


Habitat 


Location 


Phenology 


Riparian  Zone 

Lycopodium  selago 

Calamagrostis  breweri2 
Poa  laxiflora 

Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum 
Moist  Woods 
Botrychium  minganense 

Cimicifuga  elata 
Lycopodium  selago 
Poa  laxiflora 


streamside  in  dense  moist  Sept. 

woods  to  wet  cliffs/talus 

(Mt.  Hood,  BLM  Salem  District) 


moist  woods  adjacent  to  swamp  Aug-Sept. 

SH:  3,300' 

moist  woods  June-July 

SH,  LO:  1,040-2,000’ 


moist  woods  to  streamside  June 

(Mt.  Hood,  Siuslaw  NF 
to  2,400') 


Dry  Meadows  and  Open  Woods 


Agoseris  elata 

meadows  and  open  woods 
(Mt.  Hood/Deschutes  NF 
3,000-10,500') 

June-July 

Allium  campanulatum 

openings  in  dry,  coniferous 
woods 

(6-  8,000',  suspected  on  NFs) 

June-July 

Astragalus  umbraticus 

open,  dry  woods 
(Siskiyou,  Umpqua  NF) 

June 

Hieracium  bolanderi 

moist  to  dry  open  woods  and 
dry  open  slopes 

Rl:  7,200' 

June-July 

2A  plant  may  be  listed  twice  in  the  habitat  part  of  this  booklet.  The  habitat  type  in  which  the 
plant  is  most  commonly  found  is  the  habitat  where  the  plant  is  discussed. 


SENSITIVE  SPECIES  BY  HABITAT 


Habitat 


Location 


Phenology 


Rocky  Outcrops 


Asplenium  septentrionale 

cliff  crevices  and  talus  slopes, 
moist 

(Umpqua  NF,  4,000') 

Pellaea  andromedaefolia 

rock  wall,  outcrops 

(Douglas  and  Lane  Counties,  1 ,000') 

Polystichum  californicum 

moist  woods,  cliffs  and  rock 
crevices 

SH:  2,000 

Rocky  Slopes,  Scree 

Arnica  viscosa 

rocky  places,  lava  slopes, 
near  timberline 
(Deschutes  and  Umpqua  NF) 

August 

Aster  gormanii 

scree  slopes  and  rock  shelves 
SH,  DE:  3,840-6,200' 

July-Aug. 

Campanula  scabrella 

rocky  areas,  talus  slopes 
(Mt.  Adams,  Hood,  Shasta 

9,000’) 

June-Aug. 

Romanzoffia  thompsonii 

moist  drainage  slopes 
all  districts:  1 ,200-5,550' 

March-July 

High  Volcanic  Areas 

Botrychium  pumicola 

pumice  gravel 

(Deschutes  NF,  above  7,200') 

July-Sept. 

SENSITIVE  PLANTS  BY  DISTRICT 


BLUE  RIVER 

Lycopodium  inundatum 
Ophioglossum  vulgatum 
Oxypolis  occidentalis 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 
Scheuchzeria  palustris 
Utricularia  minor 

DETROIT 

Aster  gormanii 
Calamagrostis  breweri 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 

LOWELL 

Cimicifuga  elata 
Frasera  umpquaensis 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 

MCKENZIE 

Gentiana  newberryi 
Ophioglossum  vulgatum 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 


OAKRIDGE 

Frasera  umpquaensis 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 
Scheuchzeria  palustris 
Utricularia  minor 

RIGDON 

Hieracium  bolanderi 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 

SWEET  HOME 

Aster  gormanii 
Botrychium  minganense 
Cimicifuga  elata 
Lycopodium  inundatum 
Ophioglossum  vulgatum 
Polystichum  californicum 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii 
Scheuchzeria  palustris 


SENSITIVE  PLANT  BY  BLOOMING  TIME  (PHENOLOGY) 


Species 


Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sept 


Flowering  Plants: 

Romanzoffia  thompsonii 
Aster  gormanii 
Carex  livida 
Poa  laxiflora 
Scheuchzeria  palustris 
Allium  campanulatum 
Astragalus  umbraticus 
Agoseris  elata 
Campanula  scabrella 
Cimicifuga  elata 
Hieracium  bolanderi 
Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum 
Utricularia  minor 
Arnica  viscosa 
Botrychium  minganense 
Botrychium  pumicola 
Frasera  umpquaensis 
Lycopodium  inundatum 
Oxypolis  occidentalis 
Calamagrostis  breweri 
Gentiana  newberryi 
Ophioglossum  vulgatum 
Lycopodium  selago 


x 


x 

x 

x 

x 

x 


SENSITIVE  SPECIES  BY  FLOWER  COLOR 


BLUE 

Campanula  scabrella 
Gentiana  newberryi  (white  within) 

PURPLE 

Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum 
Allium  campanulatum 

GREEN 

Frasera  umpquaensis 


SENSITIVE  SI 

CAMPANULACEAE 

Campanula  scabrella 

COMPOSITAE  (ASTERACEAE) 

Agoseris  elata 
Arnica  viscosa 
Aster  gormanii 
Hieracium  bolanderi 

CYPERACEAE 

Carex  livida 

GENTIANACEAE 

Frasera  umpquaensis 
Gentiana  newberryi 

GRAMINEAE  (POACEAE) 

Calamagrostis  breweri 
Poa  laxiflora 

HYDROPHYLLACEAE 

Romanzoffia  thompsonii 

IRIDACEAE 

Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum 

LEGUMINOSAE  (FABACEAE) 

Astragalus  umbraticus 


WHITE 

Aster  gormanii-  to  pink  to  lavender 
Cimicifuga  elata-  cream  to  pink 
Oxypolis  occidentalis-  or  purple 
Romanzoffia  thompsonii-  yellow  throat 
Scheuchzeria  palustris-  greenish-white 

YELLOW 

Agoseris  elata 
Arnica  viscosa 
Astragalus  umbraticus 
Hieracium  bolanderi 
Utricularia  minor 


BY  FAMILY 

LENTIBULARIACEAE 

Utricularia  minor 

LILIACEAE 

Allium  campanulatum 

LYCOPODIACEAE 

Lycopodium  inundatum 
Lycopodium  selago 

OPHIOGLOSSACEAE 

Botrychium  minganense 
Botrychium  pumicola 
Ophioglossum  vulgatum 

POLYPODIACEAE 

Asplenium  septentrionale 
Pellaea  andromedaefolia 
Polystichum  californicum 

RANUNCULACEAE 

Cimicifuga  elata 

SCHEUCHZERIACEAE 

Scheuchzeria  palustris 

UMBELLIFERAE 

Oxypolis  occidentalis 


LEMNACEAE 

Wolffia  columbiana 


Agoseris  elata  (Nutt.)  Greene 


Tall  agoseris,  false  dandelion  or  mountain  dandelion 
Compositae  or  Sunflower  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  Willamette  National  Forest;  documented  on  Deschutes, 
Wenatchee,  Okanogan,  and  Mt.  Hood  NFs. 

Habitat:  Dry  to  mesic  meadows  and  open  woods,  from  valleys  to  moderate  elevations 
in  the  mountains,  3,000  -  10,500'. 

Range:  Washington  to  California,  both  sides  of  the  Cascades. 

Description:  Perennial;  3-6.5  dm  in  height,  glabrous  with  the  exception  of  short  villous 
hairs  on  the  involucre;  leaves  basal,  10-30  cm  long,  entire  to  pinnatifid;  stem  with  milky  sap; 


flowers  large-headed  and  yellow;  involu¬ 
cre  2-3  cm  high,  bracts  imbricate,  the 
outer  broader  and  blunter  than  the  inner. 

Blooming:  June-July,  August  at  high 
elevations. 

Threats:  Change  in  drainage;  timber 
harvest. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  479,  Vol.  5, 
p.  25. 

Abrams:  Vol.  4,  p.  564. 


Photo:  Don  Eastman 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Allium  campanulatumwats. 


Sierra  Onion 
Liliaceae  or  Lily  Family 

^  Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None,  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Sweet  Home  Ranger  District  of  the  Willamette  National 
Forest,  documented  on  the  Fremont  NF. 

Habitat:  Dryish  places,  montane  to  alpine,  within  open  coniferous  forests. 

*  Range:  North  central  Oregon  to  California  and  Nevada. 


Blooming:  June-July 

Threats:  Hikers  walking  off  trail,  trampling 
plants;  timber  harvest. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  682,  Vol.  1, 
p.  745-6. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1,  p.  391. 


> 

l 


Description:  Onion  with  more  than  three  leaves,  flattened  and  v-shaped,  not  hollow, 
leaves  wither  by  anthesis  and  drop  by  fruiting;  inflorescence  stem  rounded,  not  flattened, 
less  than  1 .5  dm  in  height;  bulb  at  base  ovoid;  flower  tepals  7-8,  purplish  (rarely  white)  with 
a  dark  purple  blotch  near  the  base,  tips 
keeled;  ovary  with  6  prominent  central 
crests. 


Photo:  Lois  Kemp 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Arnica  viscosa  (Gray) 


Shasta  arnica,  Sticky  arnica 
Compositae  or  Sunflower  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  It  was  historically  found  in 
Deschutes  Co.  (Moraine  L.,  Three  Sister’s  Wilderness)  and  Klamath  Co.  (Crater  L.). 

Habitat:  Rocky  places,  lava  slopes  and  slopes  with  seasonal  water  run-off,  near  or  above 
timberline  (6-8,000')  in  the  Cascades.  Soil  is  poor,  rocky,  well-drained.  Associated  with 
Picea  breweriana 1 ,  Pinus  monticola,  Tsuga  mertensiana,  Abies  lasiocarpa,  Pinus  albicaulis, 
Penstemon  spp.  and  Carex  brewerii. 

Range:  Southern  Oregon  Cascades  to  Mt.  Shasta,  California. 

Description:  Perennial  with  freely  branch¬ 
ing  stems,  20-50  cm  tall.  Plants  covered 
with  hairs,  many  gland-tipped.  Leaves 
abundant,  opposite,  oval,  2-4  cm  long  and 
without  petioles.  Leaves  at  the  base 
reduced.  Flower  heads  one  per  stem,  2- 
2.5  cm,  yellow  with  no  ray  flowers.  Involu¬ 
cre  sticky  with  lanceolate,  acuminate 
bracts,  9-12  mm  long. 

Arnica  venosa  looks  similar,  but  is  less 
conspicuously  pubescent  and  leaves  are 
sharply  toothed  (also  mainly  located  in 
Shasta  Co.,  California). 

Blooming:  July-August 

Threats:  Poor  ability  to  reestablish  seed¬ 
lings;  hikers,  skiers,  pumice  mining. 

References:  Abrams,  Vol.  4,  p.  426-7. 

Abrams,  1923. 


1  All  common  names  which  correspond  to 
Latin  names  may  be  seen  in  the  Glos¬ 
sary  of  Plant  Names  at  the  back  of  this 
book. 


Abrams,  1923 


Asplenium  septentrionale  (l.)  Hoffom. 


Grass  fern 

Polypodiaceae  or  Fern  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  NF;  documented  on  Umpqua  NF. 

Habitat:  Cliff  crevices  and  talus  slopes,  usually  in  moist  sites. 

Range:  Western  Europe  and  Asia,  western  U.S. 

Description:  Plant  with  a  slender  rhizome;  blades  not  divided  but  leaves  often  forked, 
slender  and  grass-like.  Stipe  much  longer  than  the  blade;  leaf  as  a  whole  less  than  6"  long 
and  1/8"  wide. 

Threats:  Rock  quarrying;  rock  climbers. 

References:  Not  in  Hitchcock,  Abrams  or 
Peck.  The  best  source  is  the  original 
description:  Lang,  Frank  A.  1969.  The 
First  Record  of  Asplenium  septentrionale 
L.  Hoffm.  in  Oregon.  American  Fern 
Journal.  59:2. 


i 


k 


Photo:  David  Wagner 


Lang,  1969 


Aster  gormanii  (Piper)  siake 


Gorman’s  aster 

Compositae  or  Sunflower  Family 


Status:  FWS:  C2;  OR:  C;  ONHDB:  1 

Distribution:  Documented  on  the  Sweet  Home  and  Detroit  RDs  on  the  Willamette  National 
Forest;  also  found  on  the  Mt.  Hood  NF. 

Habitat:  Dry,  exposed  scree  slopes  and  rock  shelves  within  them,  usually  north-facing,  mid 
to  high  elevations  (3,800  to  6,500  feet).  Associated  with  Abies  procera,  Tsuga 
mertensiana,  Comandra  umbel  lata,  Arctostaphylos  nevadensis,  Juniperus  communis, 
Calocedrus  decurrens,  Tsuga  hererophylla,  Xerophyllum  tenax,  Achillea  lanulosa,  Agrostis 
variabilis,  Arnica  lati folia,  Fragaha,  Juncus  sp.,  and  Penstemon  procerus. 

Range:  Central  Cascades  of  Oregon;  endemic  to  Willamette  and  Mt.  Hood  NFs. 

Description:  Perennial  with  a  creeping  rhizome  which  produces  mats  3-1 8  cm  across  and 
1  -3  dm  tall.  Leaves  are  sessile,  glandular, 
entire,  1-3  cm  long;  lower  leaves  are  reduced. 

Heads  are  usually  solitary  and  terminal  on  the 
stems;  ray  flowers  are  white  to  pink  or  laven¬ 
der  and  discs  flowers  yellow,  2-4  mm  across 
and  1  cm  long.  Bracts  are  in  a  spiral,  green- 
tipped,  loose,  ovate  and  sharp-pointed. 

Gorman’s  aster  is  related  to 
A.  paucicapitus,  which  differs  in  having  broad 
lanceolate-ovate  involucral  bracts,  lacking  the 
short  sparse  pubescence  on  the  underside  of 
the  leaves  and  more  southern  range.  Aster 
gormanii  hybridizes  with  A.  ledophyllus,  which 
differs  in  having  cottony,  not  glandular  to 
glandular-hairy,  leaf  pubescence. 

Blooming:  July  to  September 

Threats:  Timber  harvest;  road  building;  gravel 
operations;  hikers  and  trail  maintenance; 
collection  in  the  wild;  competitors  causing 
shading  or  increased  moisture  if  habitat  stabi¬ 
lized. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  91 ,  Vol.  5,  p.  86. 

Abrams:  Vol.  4,  p.  326. 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1 975 


\ 


Astragalus  umbraticus  sheid. 


Woodland  Milkvetch 
Leguminosae  or  Pea  Family 


Status:  FWS:  2;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest;  documented  on  Siskiyou  and 
Umpqua  NFs. 

Habitat:  Open,  dry  woods  in  rich  soil. 

►  Range:  Yamhill  County,  Oregon  to  northwest  California. 

Description:  Perennial  with  a  stout  taproot;  plant  pale  green  with  15-23  pinnately  com¬ 
pound  leaflets;  stems  glabrous,  erect,  with  long  internodes.  Flowers  average  15-25  per 
stalk  and  are  loosely  clustered.  Calyx  is  campanulate,  3  mm  long,  black  and  hairy.  The 
corolla  is  yellowish-white,  7  mm;  pod 
linear  and  curved  upward,  about  12  mm 
long. 

Blooming:  June 

Threats:  Timber  harvest. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  242,  Vol.  3, 
p.  269. 

Abrams:  Vol.  2,  p.  602. 


i 


Photo:  Don  Eastman 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Botrichium  minganensevictorin 


Gray  moonwort 

Ophioglossaceae  or  Adder’s  Tongue  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 


Distribution:  Documented  on  the  Sweet  Home  RD  on  the  Willamette  NF  and  Mt.  Hood  NF. 

Habitat:  Moist  forest  on  slopes  of  <10%,  always  near  water;  associated  with  Thuja  plicata, 
Acer  circinatum,  Oxalis  trillifolia,  moss,  and  often  found  with  other  members  of  the  species, 
especially  Botrychium  multifidum  in  our  area;  middle  elevations  (3300’). 

Range:  Great  Lakes  to  Colorado;  British  Columbia  to  Quebec;  throughout  California,  north 
to  Oregon. 


) 

* 

) 


Fertile:  August-September 

Threats:  Timber  harvest,  change  in  hydrology 
or  opening/loss  of  the  canopy  cover. 

References:  Michael,  John  T,  1979,  How  To 
Know  the  Ferns  and  Fern  Allies.  William  C. 
Brown  Co.,  Dubuque. 

Taylor,  T.M.,  1973.  The  Ferns  and  Fern- 
allies  of  British  Columbia.  British  Columbia 
Provincial  Museum,  Victoria. 

Wagner,  W.H.  and  F.  Wagner,  1983, 
“Genus  Communities  As  A  Systematic  Tool  In 
the  Study  of  the  New  World  Botrychium 
(Ophioglossaoeae)”,  Taxon  2:51-63. 


Description:  Plant  slender  and  somewhat  fleshy,  to  15  cm  in  height;  sterile  segments 
simply  pinnate,  lobes  somewhat  folded  together  but  not  overlapping  so  that  lowest  several 
pairs  tend  to  embrace  the  base  of  the  fertile  stalk;  fertile  segment  4-4.5  times  longer  than 
the  sterile  segment;  apical  pinnae  become  gradually  reduced  in  size;  fertile  segment 
emerges  and  overtops  the  sterile  segment  early  in  development,  ending  up  about  3  cm  in 
height. 

Can  be  confused  with  Botrychium  lunularia 
but  the  two  may  be  separated  basedon  leaf 
morphology;  B.  minganense  has  (a)  narrower 
pinnae  (3.5  versus  10  mm),  (b)  a  broadly 
cuneate  base  (versus  a  cordate  base),  (c) 
lower  margin  of  the  pinnae  are  ascending 
(rather  than  descending)  and  (d)  the  pinnae  do 
not  overlap. 


Photo:  Courtney  Loomis 


( 

\ 


Botrichium  pumicola  Cov.  in  Underw. 


Pumice  grapefern 

Ophioglossaceae  or  Adder’s  Tongue  Family 


Status:  FWS:  Cl ;  OR:  C;  ONHDB:  1 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  NF;  documented  on  the  Deschutes  NF 
(Paulina  Mtns.,  Three  Sister’s  Wilderness)  and  in  Klamath  Co.  (Crater  L.),  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Cascades. 

Habitat:  Pumice  gravel,  no  humus,  at  high  elevations  (above  7200').  After  snowmelt  soil 
becomes  extremely  dry. 

Range:  Mid-Cascades  in  Oregon  to  Mt.  Shasta,  California. 

Description:  Plants  stout,  fleshy,  8-22  cm  high;  fertile  and  sterile  segments  erect;  fronds  1- 
2,  6-14  cm  in  length;  sterile  blade  sessile,  leathery,  approximately  3  cm  and  usually  ter- 
nately  divided;  sporophyll  with  tip  recurved,  sessile  or  short-stalked,  equaling  or  surpassing 
sterile  blade,  paniculate;  old  leaf  bases  remain,  forming  a  sheath  around  the  lower  half  of 
plant. 

Fertile:  July-September 

Threats:  Hikers  trampling  plants;  collection. 

References: 

Abrams: 

Vol.  1 ,  p.  3. 


Photo:  David  Wagner 


Abrams,  1923 


Calamagrostis  breweri  Thurb. 


Brewer’s  reedgrass 
Gramineae  or  Grass  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

►) 

Distribution:  Documented  on  the  Detroit  RD  of  the  Willamette  National  Forest  and  on  the 
Mt.  Hood  NF. 

Habitat:  Streambanks,  lake  margins,  moist  subalpine  to  alpine  meadows  (6,000-12,200’). 

^  Range:  Clackamas  County,  Oregon  to  Salmon-Trinity  Mtns  and  Sierra  Nevada  in  Califor¬ 
nia. 

Description:  The  taxonomy  of  this  plant  is  difficult.  Note  the  very  narrow  leaves  tufted  at 
the  base  of  the  plant  and  purple  coloring  of  the  florets.  The  length  of  the  twisted  awn, 
which  exceeds  the  glume  by  1.5-2  mm, 
and  the  shallowly  4-toothed  glume,  3.3-4 
mm  in  length,  are  distinctive.  The  lemma 
is  shallowly  toothed.  The  plant  is  gla¬ 
brous,  1.5-3  dm  in  height  with  rounded 
ligules  and  panicles  3-8  cm  in  length. 

Consult  a  professional  for  identification. 

Blooming:  July-August 

>  Threats:  Change  in  hydrology;  timber 
harvest;  hikers  trampling  plants. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  628,  Vol.  1 , 
p.  523-4. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1 ,  p.  157. 


Photo:  Jenny  Dimling 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Campanula  scabrellaEngeim. 


Rough  harebell 

Campanulaceae  or  Harebell  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  NF,  documented  on  the  Wallowa-Whitman  and 
Mt.  Hood  NFs. 

Habitat:  Rocky  areas  and  talus  slopes  at  high  elevations,  around  9,000'. 

Range:  Mt.  Adams  and  Wenatchee  Mountains  in  central  Washington  to  Mt.  Shasta  and 
Mt.  Eddy  in  Siskiyou  County,  California. 

Description:  Perennial  about  10  cm  tall,  stems  much  branched,  densely  short  bristly. 
Leaves  entire,  basal  leaves  clustered, 
usually  oblanceolate,  up  to  4  cm  long; 
cauline  leaves  reduced  and  narrower. 

Flowers  usually  solitary,  terminal,  calyx  2- 
6  mm.  Corolla  blue,  bell-shaped,  6-12 
mm.  Capsule  5-7  mm,  opening  near 
summit. 

Blooming:  June-August 

Threats:  Hikers  trampling  plants. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  459,  Vol.  4, 
p.  487. 

Abrams:  Vol.  4,  p.76. 


Photo:  Lois  Kemp 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Carex  livida  (wahi.)  wnid. 


!  Pale  Sedge 

Cyperaceae  or  Sedge  Family 

Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:2 

Distribution:  This  plant  is  suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest;  it  is  documented 
on  the  Mount  Hood  NF. 

Habitat:  Low  elevation  bogs  and  swamps. 

'  Range:  Circumboreal;  south  to  western  Washington,  northwest  Montana,  Michigan  and 
New  Jersey,  disjunct  in  northwest  California. 

Description:  This  plant  keys  out  into  Group  4  of  the  Carex  species  in  Hitchcock  and 
Cronquist’s  Flora  of  the  Pacific  Northwest;  it  has  more  than  2  spikes  and  3  deciduous 
stigmas.  Leaves  are  1-3.5  mm  wide.  The 
bracts,  which  subtend  atleast  the  lowest 
spike,  have  a  well-developed  sheath  of  5 
mm  in  length,  but  the  bracts  are  not  taller 
than  the  inflorescence.  Spikes  only  have 
5  to  15  flowers.  The  perigynium  is  gla¬ 
brous,  not  compressed,  beakless  (or 
almost  so)  and  densely  pimpled. 

Blooming:  May-July 

► 

Threats:  Change  in  hydrology  of  wet 
habitats. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  586,  Vol.  1 , 
p.  285-6. 

>  Abrams:  Vol.  1 ,  p.  322. 


Photo:  Peter  Lesica 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Cimicifuga  elata  Nutt. 


f  Tall  Bugbane 

Ranunculaceae  or  Buttercup  Family 

Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  1 

Distribution:  Extant  populations  are  located  on  Sweet  Home  and  Lowell  RDs  and  historical 
populations  were  found  on  Blue  River  RD  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  Populations 
exist  on  no  other  National  Forests,  but  on  the  Eugene  and  Salem  Districts  of  the  BLM.  . 

Habitat:  Moist  woods,  a  coniferous/deciduous  mix,  at  lower  elevations.  Associated  species 
include  an  overstory  of  Pseudotsuga  menziesii,  Tsuga  heterophylla,  Acer  macrophyllum 
,  and  Taxus  brevifolia,  a  shrub  layer  of  Aralia  nudicaulis,  Acer  circinatum,  Ribes  bracteosum, 
Aruncus  Sylvester  and  Rubus  parviflorus,  and  an  herb  layer  consisting  of  Berberis  nervosa, 
Polystichum  munitum,  Adiantum  pedatum,  Oxalis  oregana  and  Vancouveria  hexandra. 
Plants  often  grow  associated  with  rocky  cliffs  and/or  riparian  areas. 

Range:  Chellam  County,  Washington  to  Lane  County,  Oregon,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Cascades. 

Description:  Perennial  with  a  stem  1-2  m,  pubescent  and  glandular;  maple-like  leaflets 
shallowly  lobed,  4-12  cm,  ovate-orbicular, 
finely  serrate-dentate;  inflorescence  a  closely- 
flowered  panicle,  glandular;  flowers  apetalous, 
sepals  (4)  5,  cream  to  pinkish,  shed  at  anthe- 
sis;  stamens  many,  cream-colored;  follicles  1 
or  2,  subsessile. 

Look-alikes  include  some  of  the  most  com¬ 
mon  shrubby  species  on  the  forest:  Acer 
macrophyllum,  Rubus  parviflora,  Actea  rubra 
and  Ribes  bracteosa.  In  all  of  these  plants,  the 
leaf  shape  is  similar.  The  tall  bugbane  may  be 
most  easily  distinguished  by  its  biternately 
compound  leaflets  with  fuzzy  peduncles  and 
its  elongate  inflorescence.  Since  flowers  have 
no  petals,  stamens  are  all  one  sees.  Fruits  are 
brown  and  look  like  inflated  pea  pods. 

Blooming:  June-July 

Threats:  Timber  harvest;  change  in  hydrology 
*  or  cover. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  128;  Vol.  2, 
p.  337-8. 

Abrams:  Vol.  2,  p.  179. 


Photo:  Lois  Kemp 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Frasera  umpquaensis  Peck&Appieg. 


Umpqua  swertia 

Gentianaceae  or  Gentian  Family 


Status:  FWS:  C2;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  1 


Distribution:  Documented  on  Lowell  and  Oakridge  RDs  of  the  Willamette  NF.  Also  located 
on  Rogue  River,  Siskiyou  and  Umpqua  NFs  and  the  Eugene  District  of  the  BLM. 


Habitat:  Edges  between  open  subalpine  woods  and  moist  meadows,  in  damp  areas  under 
the  canopy,  and  one  population  in  a  beargrass  bald.  The  Umpqua  Swertia  is  found  be¬ 
tween  4,000  and  5,000'  (1350-1950  m).  Usually  found  in  Ab/'es-dominated  forests,  associ¬ 
ated  with  Rhododendron,  Tri folium  howelii,  Rudbeckia  occidentalis,  Pteridium  aquilinum, 
Pyrola  picta,  Chimophila  umbellata,  Dicentra  formosa,  Achillea  lanulosa,  Agoseris 
aurantica,  Aquilegia  formosa,  Aster  ledophyllus,  Carex  pennsylvanica,  Danthonia 
californica,  Eriophyllum  lanatum,  Senecio  triangularis,  Elymus  glauca,  Salix,  Sidalcea 
cusickii,  Scirpus  microcarpus. 


Range:  From  Lane  County  through  southwestern  Oregon  to  Trinity  Co.,  California, 
western  slope  of  the  Oregon  Cascades. 


Description:  Tall  biennial;  stem  glabrous,  5-1 1 
dm;  basal  leaves  oblanceolate  to  sub-spatu- 
late,  20-40  cm  long;  cauline  leaves  in  whorls  of 
3-5;  inflorescence  a  dense  panicle,  1-2  dm 
long;  calyx  cleft  nearly  to  the  base,  corolla 
scarcely  equaling  the  calyx,  pale  yellow-green 
or  bluish  or  white,  each  petal  with  a  fringed 
gland,  4-parted,  found  in  leaf  axils. 

The  most  distinctive  feature  of  this  plant  is 
its  upright  inflorescence  which  is  similar  to 
beargrass.  One  may  see  last  year’s  spike  the 
following  spring. 

A  look-alike  to  watch  out  for  is  Luina  stricta, 
whose  leaves  are  of  the  same  texture  as  the 
Swertia’s.  However,  Luina’ s  leaves  are  not 
whorled  and  flowers  are  very  different. 

Blooming:  July-August 

Threats:  Logging;  change  in  the  hydrology  of 
wet  areas;  grazing. 

References:  Abrams:  Vol.  3,  p.  362. 


Photo:  Warren  Pavlat 


Gentiana  newberryi  (Gray) 


Newberry’s  gentian 
Gentianaceae  or  Gentian  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Documented  on  the  McKenzie  RD  of  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  Also 
found  on  the  Deschutes  and  Mt.  Hood  NFs. 

Habitat:  Moist  montane  meadows  to  subalpine  slopes  at  mid  to  upper  elevations  (4-5000'). 
Associated  plant  species  include  Polygonum  achoreum  and  grasses. 

Range:  Oregon  Cascades  to  California  and  Nevada. 

Description:  Low-growing  alpine  perennial;  broad,  spatula-shaped  leaves,  less  than  6 
times  as  long  as  broad,  leaves  become  smaller  as  you  proceed  up  stem,  opposite;  flowers 
large  (5  cm  long)  and  solitary,  varying 
from  white  or  yellowish  to  blue  or  deep 
violet,  white  within  and  blotched  with 
green  or  purple  spots. 

Newberry’s  gentian  is  simliar  to  G. 
algida  in  flower  size  and  color,  but  the 
leaves  are  much  broader. 

Blooming:  August-September 

Threats:  Hikers;  trail  maintenance. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  358-9,  Vol.  1 , 

p.  860. 

Abrams:  Vol.  3,  p.  356. 

) 


►> 


Photo:  Herm  Fitz 


Hieracium  bolanderi  Gray 


Bolander’s  hawkweed 
Compositae  or  Sunflower  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Located  on  the  Rigdon  RD  of  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  Also  found  on 
Rogue  River  and  Siskiyou  NFs. 

Habitat:  Dry  to  moist  open  woods  and  steep  rocky  slopes  from  1 ,000  to  7,200',  often  below 
timberline. 

Range:  Douglas,  Curry,  Josephine  and  Jackson  Counties  in  Oregon  to  Humboldt  County, 
California. 

Description:  Slender  perennial,  1-3  dm;  stems  from  woody  caudex,  unbranched  below; 
basal  leaves  1.5-7  cm,  spatulate,  sessile, 
entire  to  denticulate  with  long  hairs;  open 
inflorescence,  glabrous  except  for  an 
occasional  small  linear  hairy  bract;  involu¬ 
cre  glabrous,  often  blackish  tinged,  8-9 
mm  long;  heads  3-10,  pale  yellow  (rarely 
white);  achenes  linear,  dark  brown  and 
striated,  3  mm,  pappus  white  to  tawny. 

Hieracium  bolanderi  may  hybridize  with 
H.  albiflorum  and  others  within  the  genus. 

Blooming:  June-August 

Threats:  Timber  harvest. 

References:  Abrams:  Vol.  4,  p.  598-9. 

v 


► 


Abrams,  1923 


Lycopodium  inundatum  L 


Northern  bog  club  moss 
Lycopodiaceae  or  Clubmoss  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

^  Distribution:  Documented  on  Blue  River  and  Sweet  Home  RDs  of  the  Willamette  National 
Forest.  Also  located  on  the  Siuslaw  NF. 

Habitat:  Open  sphagnum  bogs  from  coast  to  mountains;  associated  with  Drosera 
rotundifolia  and  Vaccinium  occidentale.  Grows  on  scoured  banks  or  on  floating  logs  at 
^  middle  elevations  (4,200'). 

Range:  Interrupted  circumboreal. 

Description:  Freely-rooting  main  stem  which  gives  rise  to  upright  branches  which  termi¬ 
nate  in  cones.  Unlike  Lycopodium  annotinum,  the  sporophyllous  leaves  are  very  similar  to 
the  vegetative  leaves — entire,  linear,  tapering  to  a  point.  The  difference  is  that  the  sporo- 
phyll  leaves  have  expanded  bases.  Cones  are  sessile,  upright,  terminal  and  ellipsoid- 
globose  in  shape. 

Fertile:  July-August 

Threats:  Elk  thrash  ground  with  antlers  digging  up  vegetation;  any  action  which  changes 
the  hydrology  of 
the  bog. 

|  References: 

Hitchcock: 
p.  40,  Vol.  1, 
p.  25-6. 

Abrams, 

Vol.  1 ,  p.  44. 


Photo:  David  Wagner 


sporophy  il 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Lycopodium  selago  L 


Fir  clubmoss 

Lycopodiaceae  or  Clubmoss  Family 

Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest;  documented  sites  occur  on 
Mt.  Hood  NF  and  the  Salem  District  of  the  BLM. 

Habitat:  In  our  area  fir  clubmoss  is  most  common  in  streamside  habitats  under  a  dense 
moist  canopy  associated  with  moss,  Mitella  ovalis,  Oplopanax,  Blechnum  spicant,  Oxalis 
oregana,  Tsuga  heterophylla,  Acer  circinatum,  Vaccinium  parvifolium,  Coptis  laciniata. 

Most  are  found  at  low  to  mid-elevation  in  the  Tsuga  heterophylla  zone.  Fir  clubmoss  has 
also  been  found  in  bogs  and  on  shaded  rocks  in  arctic-alpine  regions,  in  the  Abies  amabilis 
zone,  and  on  exposed  cliffs  and  talus  slopes. 

Range:  Circumboreal;  scattered  throughout  Oregon. 

Description:  Stems  are  erect,  forming  a  cluster  of  leafy  shoots;  plant  with  elongate  sporo- 
phylls  (like  Lycopodium  inundatum)  that  are  not  very  different  from  vegetative  leaves, 
sporophyll  zones  alternate  with  vegetative  zones  in  the  leafy  shoot  clumps. 

Fertile:  September 

Threats:  Timber 
harvest. 

I  References: 

Hitchcock:  p.  41 , 

Vol.  1 ,  p.  27. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1, 
p.  43. 

i 


Photo:  Lois  Kemp 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Ophioglossum  vulgatum  L 


> 


Adder’s  tongue 

Ophioglossaceae  or  Adder’s  Tongue  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Documented  on  the  Blue  River,  McKenzie  and  Sweet  Home  RDs  of  the 
Willamette  National  Forest.  Populations  are  also  located  on  the  Siuslaw  NF. 

Habitat:  Shaded  boggy  meadows  and  pond  edges  at  middle  elevations  (1 ,500-4,968'). 
Associated  with  Rosa  gymnocarpa,  Pteridium  aquilinum,  Agrostis  exarata,  Carex  sp., 
Equisetum  hyemale,  Juncus  effusus,  Spiraea  douglasii  and  Fraxinus  latifolia. 

Range:  Circumboreal:  North  America,  Europe,  Asia. 


) 

> 

I 


Description:  Perennial  with  erect  and  glabrous  leaf;  sterile  blade  attached  well  above 
ground  ievel,  sessile,  elliptic  to  ovate  and 
smooth-margined.  The  unbranched  fertile 
stalk  is  3-15  cm  in  length  and  erect  with 
sporangia  borne  in  2  rows. 

Might  be  confused  with  lily  family 
leaves,  but  leaves  with  reticulate,  not 
parallel  veination. 

Fertile:  August-September 

Threats:  Timber  harvest;  disturbance  of 
hydrology  and/or  cover. 

References:  Hitchcock:  p.  45,  Vol.  1 , 
p.  56. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1,  p.  2. 


Photo:  Bob  Ross 


Oxypolis  occidentaliscouit  &  Rose 


Cow-bane  or  Western  occidentalis 
Umbelliferae  or  Carrot  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Documented  on  the  Blue  River  RD  of  the  Willamette  National  Forest. 
Habitat:  Mountain  springs  and  bogs. 

Range:  Cascade  mountains  of  southern  Oregon  to  Sierra  Nevada  and  San  Bernadino 
Mountains  of  California. 

Description:  Plant  an  erect  aquatic  herb;  most  easily  distinguished  by  its  simple  pinnate, 
ovate  to  lanceolate  and  crenate  leaves  and  by  its  simple  to  sparingly  branched  stem.  Up¬ 
per  leaves  become  fewer  and  lanceolate  to  linear.  Involucre  1-2  bracts,  flowers  white  or 
purple.  Carpels  have  prominent  nerves  which  make  them  looked  5-ribbed. 

Blooming:  July-August 

Threats:  Change  in  hydrology  of  the  wet  habitat. 

References:  Abrams:  Vol.  3,  p.  243-4. 


Photo:  Carolyn  Close 


Pellaea  andromedaefolia  (Kauf.)  Fee 


Coffee  fern 

Polypodiaceae  or  Fern  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

) 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest;  documented  locations  occur  in 
Douglas  and  Lane  counties,  but  not  on  federal  land. 

Habitat:  Western  Oregon  inland  valleys  on  non-calcareous  rock  at  mid  to  low  elevations. 

|  Range:  Mid-Oregon  down  to  southern  California. 

Description:  Rhizome  slender,  creeping,  with  distant  fronds;  fronds  4-24  inches;  stipe 
round,  yellow,  glabrous;  blade  bi-  to  tri-pinnate,  triangular  to  oval  in  shape  with  entire  to 
lobed  margins;  fertile  segments  curved  under  while  sterile  ones  flat;  blades  dull  green  to 
reddish-purple  above,  pale  or  yellowish 
green  below;  rachis  and  stipe  with  slight 
whitish  bloom. 

References:  Abrams:  Vol.  1 ,  p.  30. 


i 


i 


I 


Photo:  C.L.  Weber 


Abrams,  1923 


Poa  laxiflora  Bucki. 


Loose-flowered  bluegrass 
Gramineae  or  Grass  Family 

Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  C;  ONHDB:  1 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  Populations  are  documented 
on  the  Siuslaw  and  Mt.  Hood  NFs. 

Habitat:  Moist  woods  composed  of  mixed  stands  of  conifer  and  deciduous  trees  or  alder 
flats,  within  moist  zone  of  riparian  areas;  prefer  partial  shade  and  gentle  slopes;  associated 
species  include  Polystichum  munitum,  Bromus,  Oxalis,  Carex,  Galium  and  other  moist  site 
indicators;  found  from  near  sea  level  to  low  elevations  in  the  mountains. 

Range:  Southern  Alaska  to  the  Olympic  Peninsula,  south  through  Oregon;  most  popula¬ 
tions  are  found  along  the  Coast  Range. 

Description:  Rhizomatous  perennial  3-4  ft.  in  height;  stems  not  clustered;  leaf  sheaths  and 
blades  usually  retrorsely  scabrous,  ligules  3-5  mm  long,  blades  2-4  mm  wide;  inflorescence 
an  open  drooping  panicle,  10-15  cm  long;  spikelets  3  or  4-flowered,  5-6  mm  long;  lemmas 
webbed  at  base  and  pubescent  on  the  keel;  florets  perfect.  Consult  a  professional  for 
identification. 

Blooming:  May-July 

Threats:  Timber 
harvest;  road 
construction. 

References: 

Hitchcock:  p.  660, 

Vol.  1,  p.  666. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1 , 

p.  11. 


Photo:  Dan  Luoma 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Polystichum  californicum  L 


California  sword  fern 
Polypodiaceae  or  Fern  Family 


References:  Hitchcock:  p.  54,  Vol.  1, 
p.  87. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1 ,  p.  11. 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 


^  Distribution:  Found  on  the  Sweet  Home  RD  of  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  Also  found 
on  the  Umpqua  NF. 


Habitat:  At  lower  elevations  California  sword  fern  is  found  in  sheltered  warm  sites  associ¬ 
ated  with  dry  cliffs  and  rock  crevices  where  plants  can  receive  moisture  and  in  streambeds 
at  middle  elevations.  Average  elevation  for  plant  habitat  is  2,000'. 

Range:  Western  Washington  (Wenatchee)  to  the  coastal  ranges  of  central  California. 


Description:  Perennial  with  a  stout  rhizome;  fronds  medium,  0.5-4.0  dm,  firm  and  spinu- 
lose-tipped;  lowest  2-8  pair  of  leaflets  cleft 
as  much  as  2/3  way  to  the  midvein. 


Threats:  Timber  harvest. 


Photo:  Warren  Pavlat 


Romanzoffia  thompsonii 


Thompson’s  mist  maiden 
Hydrophyllaceae  or  Waterleaf  Family 


Status:  FWS:  3C;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  1 

Distribution:  Populations  are  documented  on  all  7  Ranger  Districts  of  the  Willamette 
National  Forest.  It  is  also  documented  on  Umpqua  NF. 

Habitat:  Moist,  steep,  seeping  open  drainage  slopes  from  lower  to  mid  elevations,  (1 ,200- 
5,550');  soil  is  rocky  and  shallow.  Associated  species  include  Holodiscus  discolor,  Mitella 
breweri,  Montia  sibirica,  Delphinium  menziesii,  Mimulus  guttatus  and  Sedum  nuttallii. 

Range:  Central  Oregon  Cascades  only. 

Description:  This  is  the  only  known  annual  Romanzoffia.  The  stem  is  several-branched; 
leaves  (3)  5-lobed,  clustered  basally,  early  deciduous,  cauline  usually  opposite  and  3-5 
mm,  silky  hairs  in  leaf  axils;  flowers  axillary,  petals  white  with  a  yellow  tube;  capsule  2- 
celled,  flattened. 

Blooming:  April-June 

Threats:  Quarrying;  roadbuilding. 

References:  Not  in 

any  key. 


Photo:  David  Wagner 


< 


Scheuchzeria  palustrisvar.  americana  L. 


Scheuchzeria 
Scheuchzeriaceae  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

l  Distribution:  This  plant  is  documented  on  Sweet  Home,  Blue  River  and  Oakridge 
RDs  of  the  Willamette  National  Forest.  It  is  also  found  on  the  Mount  Hood  NF. 

Habitat:  In  sphagnum  bogs  and  along  lake  margins  in  boreal  zones.  Scheuchzeria  is  often 
associated  with  Carex  sp.,  Drosera  sp.,  Vaccinium  uliginosum,  Kalmia  microphylla, 

Tofieldia  glandulosa,  Potentilla  palustris  and  other  bog  plants. 

Range:  Alaska  to  Sierra  County,  California. 

Description:  Perennial  rush-like  plant  with  rhizomes;  leaves  10-40  cm,  ones  at  the  base 
persistent,  those  at  the  top  reduced  to  sheathing  bracts;  prominent  ligule  at  juncture  of 
sheath  and  blade,  10-12  mm  in  length;  racemes  3  to  12-flowered;  pedicels  spread  in  fruit 
(to  25  mm);  perianth  greenish-white  and  membraneous,  segments  oblong  and  approx.  3 
mm;  fruit  a  4-8  mm  follicle  which  appears  inflated  and  is  3-parted  and  straw-colored. 

This  plant  may  be  seen,  by  practiced  eye,  on  aerial  photos.  The  areas  which  this  plant 
inhabits  appear  reddish. 

Blooming:  May-July 

Threats:  Change  in 
hydrology. 

I  References: 

Hitchcock:  p.  97, 

Vol.  1,  p.  153. 

Abrams:  Vol.  1 , 
p.  97. 

) 


i 


Photo:  David  Wagner 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Sisyrinchium  sarmentosum  Suksd.  ex  Green. 


> 


Suksdorf’s  Blue-Eyed  grass 
Iridaceae  or  Iris  Family 


Status:  FWS:  C2;  OR:  C;  ONHDB:  1 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest;  documented  on  the  Mt.  Hood 
and  Gifford  Pinchot  NFs. 


Blooming:  June-July 

|  Threats:  Timber  harvest. 

References:  Abrams:  Vol.  1 ,  p.  466. 

Henderson,  Douglas  M., 
1976,  “A  Biosystematic 
t  Study  of  Pacific  North- 

*  western  Blue-Eyed 

Grasses  (Sisyrinchium, 
Iridaceae),”  Brittonia. 
28:149-76. 


Habitat:  Margins  of  mesic  meadows  and  stream  zones. 

^  Range:  Canada  to  eastern  Washington  and  North  Dakota. 

Description:  Stems  grow  in  small  leafless  tufts  which  grow  to  2-4.5  mm  tall;  bracts  of  the 
spathe  linear,  the  inner  exceeding  the  pedicels,  the  outer  much  longer  than  the  inner; 
sepals  and  petals  from  pale  to  dark  blue  or  purplish,  yellow  at  the  base;  capsule  globose. 

One  other  species  of  Sisyrinchium, 

S.  idahoense,  may  be  confused  with 
S.  sarmentosum.  They  may  be  separated 
by  a  variety  of  tepal  characters; 

S.  sarmentosum  tepals  have  no  emargin- 
ation,  are  pale  blue  and  have  an  outer 
tepal  length/width  ratio  of  2.8  to  3.0,  while 
S.  idahoense  has  emarginate  outer  tepals 
which  are  dark  blue  and  have  a  length/ 
width  ratio  of  greater  than  3.0.  Also, 

Suksdorf’s  blue-eyed  grass  has  a  wide 
}  hyaline  margin  near  the  apex  of  the  inner 
bract.  Sisyrinchium  idahoense  lacks  this 
bract  character. 


Photo:  Lois  Kemp 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Utricularia  minor  L 


Lesser  Bladderwort 

Lentibulariaceae  or  Bladderwort  Family 


Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Documented  on  the  Oakridge  and  Blue  River  RDs  of  the  Willamette  National 
Forest. 


Habitat:  Standing  or  slowly-moving  water;  grows  submerged  and  creeping  along  the  bot¬ 
tom  of  the  water  body. 

Range:  Circumboreal,  extending  from  Alaska  south  to  Tulare  County,  California,  Utah, 
Colorado,  Indiana,  New  Jersey,  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania. 

Description:  This  plant  is  insectiverous.  Bladders  are  insect-catching  devices  which  are 
borne  along  with  leaves  on  stem  (as  opposed  to  being  on  specialized  branches  which  only 
support  bladders);  leaf  tips  are  sharply  pointed;  corolla  is  yellow,  the  spur  is  much  less  than 
the  4-8  mm  long  lower  lip;  pedicels  are  recurved  in  fruit. 

Blooming:  June-August 

Threats:  Changes  in  hydrology. 


References: 

Hitchcock:  p.  446, 
Vol.  4,  p.  434-435. 
Abrams:  Vol.  4, 

p.  12. 


Photo:  ( U .  intermedia)  Paula  Brooks 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


Wolffia  columbiana  Karst. 


Water-Meal 

Lemnaceae  or  Duckweed  Family 

Status:  FWS:  None;  OR:  None;  ONHDB:  2 

Distribution:  Suspected  on  the  Willamette  National  Forest;  documented  on  the  Mount 
Hood  NF. 

Habitat:  Ponds;  associated  with  W.  punctata,  Azolla,  Lemna  and  Spirodela. 

Range:  Widely  distributed  in  North  and  South  America,  but  rare  in  our  area. 

Description:  Plant  floating  just  below  the  surface  of  the  water  body;  thallus  ovoid  to 
subglobose,  scarcely  1  mm  long,  body  greenish,  stomata  1-6. 

The  closest  relative,  Wolffia  punctata,  has  an  oblong  thallus,  white  to  brown  pockmarks 
on  both  surfaces  and  numerous  stomates. 

Threats:  Changes  in  hydrology,  sedimentation. 

References:  Hitchcock  and  Cronquist:  p.  677-78,  Vol.  1, 735. 


Hitchcock  and  Cronquist,  1975 


. 


Glossary  of  Plant  Names 


Latin  Name 


Common  Name 


Abies  amabilis 
Abies  lasiocarpa 
Abies  procera 
Acer  circinatum 
Acer  macrophyllum 
Achillea  lanulosa 
Actaea  rubra 
Adiantum  pedatum 
Agoseris  aurantica 
Agrostis  exarata 
Agrostis  variabilis 
Aquilegia  formosa 
Aralia  nudicaulis 
Arctostaphylos  nevadensis 
Arnica  latifolia 
Arnica  venosa 
Aruncus  Sylvester 
Aster  ledophyllus 
Aster  paucicapitus 
Azolla 

Berberis  nervosa 
Blechnum  spicant 
Botrychium  multifidum 
Botrychium  lunularia 
Bromus 

Calocedrus  decurrens 
Carex  breweri 
Carex  pensylvanica 
Chimophila  umbellata 
Comandra  umbellata 
Coptis  laciniata 
Danthonia  californica 
Delphinium  menziesii 
Dicentra  formosa 
Drosera  rotundifolia 
Elymus  glaucus 
Eriophyllum  lanatum 
Equisetum  hyemale 
Frageria 
Fraxinus  latifolia 
Galium 


Pacific  silver  fir 
Subalpine  fir 
Noble  fir 
Vine  maple 
Big-leafed  maple 
Yarrow 

Red  baneberry 
Lady  fern 

Orange  mountain  dandelion 

Spike  bentgrass 

Variant  bentgrass 

Red  columbine 

Wild  sarsaprilla,  aralia 

Kinnickinnick 

Mountain  arnica 

Veiny  arnica 

Goatsbeard 

Cascade  aster 

Olympic  Mountain  aster 

Water  fern 

Cascade  Oregon  grape 
Deer  fern 

Leathery  grapefern 
Moonwort 
Brome  grass 
Incense  cedar 
Brewer’s  sedge 
Long-stolon  sedge 
Prince’s  pine 
Fake  toadflax 
Oregon  goldthread 
California  oatgrass 
Menzies’  larkspur 
Bleeding  heart 
Sundew 

Blue  wheatgrass  or  western  rye-grass 

Oregon  sunshine 

Horsetail,  scouring  rush 

Strawberry 

Oregon  ash 

Bedstraw 


Glossary  of  Plant  Names 


Latin  Name 


Gentiana  algida 
Hieracium  albiflorum 
Holodiscus  discolor 
Juncus  effusus 
Juniperus  communis 
Kalmia  microphylla 
Lemna 
Luina  stricta 
Lycopodium  annotinum 
Mimulus  guttatus 
Mitella  breweri 
Mitella  ovalis 
Montia  sibirica 
Oplopanax  horridum 
Oxalis  oregana 
Oxalis  trillifolium 
Penstemon 
Penstemon  procerus 
Picea  breweriana 
Pinus  albicaulis 
Pinus  monticola 
Polygonum  achoreum 
Polystichum  munitum 
Potentilla  palustris 
Pseudotsuga  menziesii 
Pteridium  aquiiinum 
Pyrola  picta 
Rhododendron 
Ribes  bracteosum 
Rosa  gymnocarpa 
Rubus  parviflorus 
Rudbeckia  occidentalis 
Salix 

Scirpus  microcarpus 
Sedum  nuttalii 
Sidalcea  cusickii 
Sisyrinchium  idahoense 
Senecio  triangularis 
Spiraea  douglasii 
Spirodela 
Taxus  brevifolia 


Common  Name 


Whitish  gentian 
White-flowered  hawkweed 
Ocean  spray 
Soft  or  common  rush 
Mountain  juniper 
Small-leafed  kalmia 
Duckweed 
Tongue-leafed  luina 
Stiff  clubmoss 
Yellow  monkeyflower 
Brewer’s  mitrewort 
Oval-leafed  mitrewort 
Miner’s  lettuce 
Devil’s  club 
Oregon  wood-sorrel 
Trillium-leaved  wood-sorrel 
Penstemon  or  beardstongue 
Small-flowered  penstemon 
Weeping  spruce 
White  pine 
Western  white  pine 
Knotweed 
Common  swordfern 
Marsh  cinquefoil 
Douglas  fir 
Bracken  fern 

White-veined  pyrola  or  wintergreen 

Rhododendron 

Stink  currant 

Baldhip  or  little  wild  rose 

Thimbleberry 

Coneflower 

Willow 

Small-fruited  bulrush 
Nuttal’s  stonecrop 
Cusick’s  checkermallow 
Idaho  blue-eyed  grass 
Arrow-leaved  groundsel 
Douglas  spiraea 
Great  duckweed 
Pacific  yew 


Glossary  of  Plant  Names 


Latin  Name 


Thuja  plicata 
Tofieldia  glandulosa 
Trifolium  howellii 
Tsuga  heterophylla 
Tsuga  mertensiana 
Vaccinium  parvifolium 
Vaccinium  occidentale 
Vancouveria  hexandra 
Wolffia  punctata 
Xerophyllum  tenax 


Common  Name 


Western  red  cedar 
Tofieldia 

Howell’s  or  bigleaf  clover 
Western  hemlock 
Mountain  hemlock 
Red  huckleberry 
Western  bog  blueberry 
Inside-out  flower 
Water-meal 
Beargrass 


References 


Abrams,  Leroy.  1923.  Illustrated  flora  of  the  pacific  states.  Stanford  University  Press, 
Stanford. 

Hitchcock,  C.  L.,  A.  Cronquist,  M.  Ownby  and  J.  W.  Thompson.  1955.  Vascular  plants  of 
the  pacific  northwest.  University  of  Washington  Press,  Seattle. 

Lang,  Frank  A.  1969.  The  first  record  of  Asplenium  septentrionale  L.  Hoffm.  in  Oregon. 
American  fern  journal.  59:2. 

Taylor,  T.  M.  C.  1973.  The  ferns  and  fern-allies  of  British  Columbia.  British  Columbia  pro¬ 
vincial  museum,  Victoria. 


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