Varied-leaf COLLOMIA annual • 2–12" Polemoniaceae ~ Phlox Family open woods, meadows, roadsides Collòmia heterophýlla The phlox family is composed of annuals and perennials whose radially symmetric flowers have a middle: June 5-lobed calyx and corolla, 5 stamens attached to the corolla, and a 3-parted style that develops As the name indicates, varied-leaf collomia has leaves that vary from entire . While some of our species are quite showy, many are so-called “belly plants”—tiny into a capsule or nearly so at the tips of the stems, to deeply pinnately lobed toward the easy-to-miss annuals. The are attractive to many pollinators. There has been much tubular flowers base of the plant. Both leaves and stems are covered with soft white hairs confusion about the classification of species within this family and many of the species have been that can feel quite slimy. Clusters of sessile, narrow-tubed, pink-lobed flowers moved between various genera several times. are nestled among the upper leaves. This small annual is common at low to middle elevations west of the Cascade LARge-flOWERED COLLOMIA annual • 4–36" (10–90 cm) crest from Vancouver Island to California and also occurs in Idaho. Tire and dry meadows Collòmia grandiflòra Heckletooth mountains, Illahee Rock, Mt. June and Abbott Butte are a few plac- middle: July es where it can be seen. Peach is an uncommon color for a flower and makes this pretty annual distinctive, although it can be paler, almost to white. The long tubu- lar flowers are sessile and sit in tight clusters subtended by leafy bracts. The inflores- cence is sticky with glandular hairs and there are hairs on the stem as well. Blue pollen is revealed when the white anthers mature. The entire leaves are linear to lance-shaped and have no petioles. Collomia is the greek word for glue, referring to the way the seeds become mucilaginous when wet, a common trait in many members of the phlox family. Large-flowered collomia is found at low to middle elevations across Oregon and from British Columbia south to California and east to the Rockies. It is more common in the southern part of our area and may be seen at Hershberger Mountain, Abbott Butte, Hemlock Lake, Moon Point, and Youngs Rock. YELLOW-STAINING COLLOMIA annual • 2–6" open ground, rocky meadows Collòmia tinctòria middle: late June to July NARROW-leaf COLLOMIA annual • 4–24" (10–60 cm) meadows Collòmia lineàris Like its larger relatives, linear leafy middle: July bracts subtend the small flower clus- ters of yellow-staining collomia. The Another annual, narrow-leaf collomia resem- pink flowers have very narrow, dark bles a pink version of large-flowered collomia. red tubes and a short calyx. The sta- It is smaller however, and its little tubular flow- mens have blue pollen and are inserted ers give rise to another common name, tiny near the top of the throat, but only a trumpet. If there is enough moisture plants may couple are exserted. Glandular hairs become tall and branched but generally are cover the stems, leaves, and calyx. short and single-stemmed. Like most collomias, This tiny dry climate annual is found the stamens are inserted at varying depths at low to moderate elevations from and several remain entirely within the corol- Washington to California and east la tube. The pollen is white. into Montana and Utah. More often While narrow-leaf collomia’s wide distribu- seen in southern and eastern Oregon, tion reaches from British Columbia to California it is found in the southern part of our and east to Ontario and New Mexico, it is more area including Abbott Butte, Fairview common in the drier climates south and east of Peak, Twin Lakes, Reynolds Ridge, and our area. Look for it at Buck Canyon, Bachelor Hershberger, Groundhog, Lookout, and Mountain, Echo Basin, and Iron Mountain. Rattlesnake mountains. 186 • Polemoniaceae Phlox Family • 187 SPREADING PHLOX ANNUAL PHLOX Phlóx diffùsa Micrósteris (Phlox) grácilis perennial • 2–6" (5–15 cm) annual • 2–12" (5–30 cm) dry and rocky meadows, outcrops open ground, rocky meadows early: mid-June to early July early: May to July In a good year, spreading phlox’s dense cush- The notched lobes of its tiny flowers set annual phlox ions of shiny, needle-like leaves can disappear apart from similar species. While usually pink in most of under a blanket of pinwheel-shaped blossoms. its range (and often called pink microsteris), it is more The fragrant flowers are usually pale pink, but commonly white in our area. Its linear to lance-shaped on different plants vary from white to lavender leaves are covered with fine glandular hairs. Large to deep pink. On a warm day where they grow plants can be well branched. profusely, their sweet scent fills the air. While Annual phlox is found throughout Oregon and there are similar species of phlox to the east, much of the West. It is very common and likely to be this is the only cushion-forming one in our area. seen on most any trail in the Western Cascades. Plants can spread up to 2' (60 cm) wide. Spreading phlox is found at mid to high ele- vations in Oregon and throughout the western TRUE BABY STARS US. It is fairly common in the Western Cascades. Leptosìphon (Linanthus) bìcolor Horsepasture, Crescent and Hershberger moun- tains are all fabulous places to enjoy this beauty. annual • 1–6" (5–15 cm) Castle Rock, Table Rock and Tidbits, Patterson, dry meadows, open ground Heckletooth, and Tire mountains also have siz- middle: May to June able populations. Also known as bicolored flaxflower, this species' tiny flowers have bright pink to white, rounded lobes with a yellow throat and a circle of white at the mouth WooDLAND PHLOX perennial • 2–6" (5–15 cm) open woods, shady roadside of the exceptionally long, narrow tube. They sit stalk- Phlóx adsúrgens less in a cluster of leaf-like bracts, usually blooming only early: mid-June to early July 1 or 2 at a time. The unusual stem leaves are palmately Woodland phlox is a beautiful peren- dissected into 3-7 sharply pointed, narrow segments nial with shiny green, opposite, ovate and occur in opposite sessile pairs. leaves on long trailing stems. The True baby stars occurs from California to Washington flowers are tubular with 5 (usually) at low to middle elevations. Look for it at Tire and Big widely spreading rounded lobes that, Squaw mountains, Abbott Butte, and Youngs Rock. as with other phloxes, are twisted in bud. The flowers are quite variable, and it is fun to look for all the unusual flower HARKNESS’ FLAXFLOWER shapes and shades of pink. A horticul- Leptosìphon (Linanthus) harknéssii tural variety ‘Wagon Wheel’ has very narrow lobes, while others are almost annual • 2–10" (5–25 cm) round. Its stems can root where they open ground, rocky meadows touch the ground, making it very easy to middle: late June to July grow from cuttings. If the slugs don’t get The paired sessile leaves of this airy annual are deeply it, it makes a wonderful garden plant. palmately dissected into 3–7 very narrow segments, Woodland phlox grows at low to giving the impression of a whorl of needle-like leaves. Tiny, middle elevations over a limited range solitary, funnel-shaped, white flowers reach out past the from Marion County south into north- leaves on red, thread-like pedicels. western California. Much of the trail to Harkness’ flaxflower occurs from Washington to Tidbits is lined with its pink flowers in California, east to Idaho and Utah. Mainly found in eastern July. Other terrific places to see it are at Oregon, it spills into the Western Cascades occasionally. Lowder Mountain, Twin Lakes, Hemlock You may find it at Twin Lakes, Lowder Mountain, Cone Lake, Castle Rock, and along the road to Peak, and throughout the Rogue-Umpqua Divide. Patterson Mountain. 188 • Polemoniaceae Phlox Family • 189 MOUNTAIN NAVARRETIA BLUEFIELD GILIA Navarrètia divaricàta Gília capitàta annual • 1–4" annual • 6–36" (15–75 cm) dry open ground, rocky meadows open slopes, outcrops middle: late June to July mid to late: June to July A true “belly plant”, it is very difficult to see the Also known as blue-headed gilia, It tiny pink buds and white to pale pink flowers would be hard to mistake its almost spheri- without getting most of the way down onto cal blue heads for any other wildflower in our the open dirt that mountain navarretia typi- area. The exserted stamens add to the fuzzy cally inhabits. The calices and the tufts of appearance of the inflorescence. Its numerous, spiky, palmately lobed bracts that hold the clustered tubular flowers make it a favorite flowers are conspicuously hairy and glandu- nectar plant of butterflies. As an annual, it is lar; the actual leaves are linear or pinnate and dependent on moisture; after a wet spring its barely noticeable. cheery blue pompoms can cover large swaths Mountain navarretia ranges from British of sloping meadows. Its height also varies greatly Columbia to California, and with soil conditions. The once or twice pinnate- east to Montana and Nevada. ly divided leaves are arranged alternately on the It can be seen occasionally in stem as well as clustered in a basal rosette. the Western Cascades, espe- Bluefield gilia grows at low to mid eleva- cially in the bare ground of a tions from Baja California to British Columbia trail, and grows at Abbott Butte, and Idaho and New Mexico. It is common in the Lowder Mountain, Fish Creek, Western Cascades, putting on a marvelous show Grasshopper Meadows, Youngs at Lookout, Tire, and Big Squaw mountains, Mt.