United States Department of Agriculture

Common Native Forbs

of the Northern Great 

Basin Important for

Greater Sage-Grouse

Forest

Service

Rocky Mountain

Research Station

General Technical Report

RMRS-GTR-387 

November 

2018

Tara Luna • Mark R. Mousseaux • R. Kasten Dumroese
Cover photos: Upper le: Balsamorhiza sagittata, R. Kasten 

Dumroese; upper right: Calochortus macrocarpus, Gerald 

D. Carr; lower le: Castilleja chromosa, Mark Egger; 

lower right: Greater Sage-grouse, Steve Fairbairn, U.S. 

Fish & Wildlife Service. All photos in the eld guide used 

with permission.

Abstract: is eld guide is a tool for the identication 

of 119 common forbs found in the sagebrush rangelands 

and grasslands of the northern Great Basin. ese forbs 

are important because they are either browsed directly by 

Greater Sage-grouse or support invertebrates that are also 

consumed by the birds. Species are arranged alphabetically 

by genus and species within families. Each species has a 

botanical description and one or more color photographs to 

assist the user. Most descriptions mention the importance 

of the plant and how it is used by Greater Sage-grouse. A 

glossary and indices with common and scientic names 

are provided to facilitate use of the guide. is guide is not 

intended to be either an inclusive list of species found in 

the northern Great Basin or a list of species used by Greater 

Sage-grouse; some other important genera are presented in 

an appendix. 

Keywords: diet, forbs, Great Basin, Greater Sage-grouse, 

identication guide

Luna, T.; Mousseaux, M.R.; Dumroese, R.K. 2018. 

Common native forbs of the northern Great Basin 

important for Greater Sage-grouse. Gen. Tech. Rep. 

RMRS-GTR-387. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research 

Station; Portland, OR: U.S. Department of the Interior, 

Bureau of Land Management, Oregon–Washington 

Region. 76p.
i

Acknowledgements

In 2016, Hannah Goodmuth, sponsored by Mark Mousseaux, compiled photos and line 

drawings and translated 49 technical species descriptions into layman’s terms for a 

Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior, training document titled 

Common Select Forbs Important for Greater Sage-Grouse. We thank her for that work 

that served as inspiration for this eort. 

We thank these photographers for providing images: James Andre, Gerald D. Carr, 

Robert L. Carr, Mark Egger, Steve Fairbairn, Tanya Harvey, Matt Lavin, Ben Legler, 

and James Moreeld. We also thank Jim Marin of Jacksonville, Oregon, for designing 

the publication.

We thank William Carromero, National Botanist, Forest Service, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture; Sarah Kulpa, Restoration Ecologist/Botanist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 

and Roger Rosentreter, Bureau of Land Management (retired) for their insightful 

comments on earlier versions of this publication.

Funding for this publication was provided by the Bureau of Land Management Oregon–

Washington Region; the Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and 

Genetic Resources; the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station; and the Forest 

Service Western Center for Native Plant Conservation and Restoration Science.

USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.
ii

Authors

Tara Luna, based in East Glacier, Montana, is a botanist and ecologist involved in the 

conservation and restoration of ecologically signicant areas. She specializes in documenting plant species and plant community diversity on indigenous lands. Tara edited 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Handbook 730, Nursery Manual 

for Native Plants: A Guide for Tribal Nurseries and co-authored several chapters in 

USDA Agriculture Handbook 732, Tropical Nursery Manual: A Guide to Starting and 

Operating a Nursery for Native and Traditional Plants. She also has authored native 

plant conservation, restoration, and propagation publications for the Native Plants 

Journal, the Forest Service, and the Montana Natural Heritage Program. 

Mark R. Mousseaux is the Oregon–Washington State Botanist for the Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) in Medford, Oregon. He started his career in 1984 with 

the Forest Service in northern Idaho. Aer working as a eld technician, a forester, 

a nurseryman, and a botanist for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, he moved 

his family to Oregon in 2000 and accepted the BLM District Botanist position in 

Medford, Oregon. In 2011 he became the Oregon–Washington State Botanist and 

has been involved in plant conservation and the development of native plant materials for restoration on public lands. He served on the core team for the 2015 Oregon 

Greater Sage-grouse Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment and has been 

involved nationally with implementing the National Seed Strategy and providing 

guidance on restoration of ecosystems in Oregon and the Great Basin. 

R. Kasten Dumroese is the Forest Service National Nursery Specialist with the Center 

for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources, a research plant physiologist at the 

Rocky Mountain Research Station, and director of the Western Center for Native Plant 

Conservation and Restoration Science. Kas is located in Moscow, Idaho. During his career, 

Kas has authored more than 250 science and science-delivery publications and initiated 

the Native Plants Journal and the Native Plant Network. His research focuses on producing native plants in nurseries and successfully deploying them onto the landscape under 

current and future climates to restore ecosystem function.

USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.
iii

Acknowledgements ...............i

Authors .......................... ii

Introduction ..................... 1

Plant Families ................... 2

Amaranthaceae ..................... 2

Apiaceae ........................... 3

Asteraceae ......................... 4

Campanulaceae .................... 18

Caryophyllaceae ................... 18

Crassulaceae ...................... 23

Fabaceae .......................... 23

Geraniaceae ....................... 31

Hydrophyllaceae ..................... 32

Liliaceae ............................. 35

Loasaceae ........................... 36

Malvaceae ........................... 38

Montiaceae .......................... 39

Orobanchaceae ....................... 42

Phrymaceae ......................... 42

Plantaginaceae ....................... 43

Polemoniaceae ....................... 45

Polygonaceae ........................ 53

Rosaceae ............................ 55

Saxifragaceae ........................ 57

Valerianaceae ........................ 58

Violaceae ............................ 59

References ...................... 62

Resources ...................... 63

Appendix ......................... 64

Glossary ........................... 66

Index of Scientic Names ....... 72

Index of Common Names ...... 74

Table of Contents

USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.
iv

Newberry’s milkvetch Gerald D. Carr

USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 1

Introduction

Herbaceous plants (forbs) are important in the diet of hens and chicks of Greater Sage-grouse 

(Centrocercus urophasianus). Various lists have been organized, including those in the Oregon 

Greater Sage-grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment (DOI BLM 2015), the Sage 

Grouse Habitat Assessment Framework (Stiver et al. 2015), and in recent journal articles that 

summarize the literature about Greater Sage-grouse diets (Dumroese et. al. 2015, 2016). 

Another concept developed by Rosentreter (2016) places native plant genera into preference or palatability categories based on knowledge of plant chemical composition, plant 

family characteristics, and the perceived ability of Greater Sage-grouse to eat them. is 

guide includes 119 descriptions of some of these commonly seen forbs in sage-steppe and 

grasslands of the northern Great Basin within the range of the Greater Sage-grouse. While not 

inclusive of all of the common forbs of the region, our guide focuses on plants dened by the 

Rosentreter concept that are important in Greater Sage-grouse diet. Other genera also have 

benets to Greater Sage-grouse; some of these are detailed in the appendix along with all of 

the species treated in this guide.

Greater Sage-grouse may consume the tender leaves of certain forbs, or consume the ower 

petals and nutrient rich stigmas and stamens of others, or both. Some species may only be 

eaten early in the spring, or later during the brood rearing season, but not consumed later in 

the summer and fall. Some species (the milky sap asters, tender legumes and tender herbaceous species) seem to have higher utility to the birds. Other groups (daisies and eabanes, 

lilies, buckwheats, and others) seem to be only moderately important. Plant species (even if 

in a high value genus) that are overly resinous, gummy, hairy, or oily are not generally used, 

or perhaps only incidentally, because of the inability of the birds to consume them based on 

their beak morphology. Species such as toxic legumes (lupines); coarse, prickly, or hairy 

asters; oily mustards; or hairy borages are probably avoided because of low palatability. Forbs 

within preferred genera, e.g. Lomatium (desert parsley), Agoseris (mountain dandelion), 

Erigeron (daisies), within the range of Greater Sage-grouse may benet the birds directly as 

food for chicks and hens and indirectly by hosting insects and other invertebrates consumed 

by the birds and by providing cover. See the References and Resources sections for publications describing forbs with high value to pollinators, and by extension, to other invertebrates.

Photos and descriptions of common native owering plants are arranged by family and 

subsequently grouped alphabetically by genus and species. We intend to provide descriptive and diagnostic narratives for each species using standard botanical terms dened in 

the glossary.

Scientic names follow the most current nomenclature provided by the Oregon Flora 

Project (2018), the Flora of North America Editorial Committee (1993+), and/or the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS (Plant 

List of Accepted Nomenclature, Taxonomy, and Symbols) database (PLANTS Database 

2018). Common names reect those used in the northern Great Basin or found in the 

PLANTS database.

We intend this guide to assist people conducting Greater Sage-grouse habitat assessments and rangeland vegetation monitoring, as well as ranchers, farmers, native seed 

collectors, conservationists, tourists, and students.
2 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Amaranthaceae

Micromonolepis pusilla 

(Torr. ex S. Watson) Ulbr.

Dwarf monolepis is a minute, dichotomously 

branching erect annual that is 2–18 cm tall. 

Leaves and stems are oen red-toned when 

young and become smooth and shiny with age. 

Leaves are alternate, narrow to broadly oval 

with rounded tips. ere are several tiny owers, usually 1–5 per axil with 1–3 petals each. 

Flattened capsules contain shiny black seeds 

that strongly adhere to the dry fruit wall. e 

tender leaves are eaten in the spring.

Monolepis nuttalliana 

(Schult.) Greene

Patata is a succulent annual with reddish sprawling stems that are 10–30 cm long. Upper stem 

leaves are alternate and smooth and become 

reduced to bracts in the inorescence. Lower 

stem leaves are shaped like a spearhead. Flowers 

are small, rosy-colored, and non-descript; borne 

in clusters in the leaf axils. Tiny fruits are 1–1.5 

mm long with fruit walls that strongly adhere to 

the shiny black seeds. e tender leaves are eaten 

in the spring.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Plant Families
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 3

Apiaceae

Lomatium cous 

(S. Watson) J.M. Coult. & Rose

Cous biscuitroot is an early spring perennial with 

prostrate to slightly ascending leaves arising from 

a deep-seated, eshy root. Leaves are blue-green, 

fern-like, and pinnately divided three times into 

small, crowded, elliptic segments. e inorescence is a compound umbel with branches 

varying in length. e cluster of yellow owers 

at the end of each umbel branch is subtended by 

oval-shaped bractlets. Stems of this plant oen 

have a rosy cast. Seeds are ribbed, elliptical, 

without wings, and 5–9 mm long. e leaves 

of this species are eaten in early spring, and the 

owers likely support invertebrates consumed by 

the birds.

Lomatium macrocarpum 

(Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray)

Bigseed biscuitroot is an early owering perennial 

arising from a thick taproot. Flowering stalks 

are erect or decumbent, covered with appressed 

white hairs, and oen purplish. Leaves are 

twice-pinnately lobed with leaets that are 

pinnately lobed into lance to linear segments, 

giving the leaf a fern-like appearance. Leaves 

are silvery green to greyish and densely shorthairy. Flowers are borne in round to hemispheric 

umbels. Only one side of each ower cluster is 

subtended by reexed bractlets. Flower color 

ranges from white to purplish to yellow. Seeds 

are lance to elliptical, ribbed, narrowly winged 

and 10–15 mm long. e leaves of this species 

are eaten in early spring, and the owers likely 

support invertebrates consumed by the birds.

Gerald D. Carr

Tara Luna

Gerald D. Carr
4 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Apiaceae

Lomatium triternatum 

(Pursh) J.M. Coult. & Rose

Nineleaf biscuitroot is an erect perennial 

arising from a slender taproot. Foliage is green 

to blue-green, sparsely covered with tiny 

appressed hairs or nearly hairless. Leaves and 

stems exude a pleasant celery-like scent. Basal 

leaves are pinnately divided or lobed 3 times 

into 9 linear leaf segments. Leaf segments 

are well separated and 1–12 cm long. Flower 

stems are of unequal length and topped with 

bright yellow owers in a at umbel. Mature 

seeds are elliptical, hairless, and with narrow, 

papery wings along the margins of the fruit. 

e leaves of this species are eaten in early 

spring, and the owers likely support invertebrates consumed by the birds.

Asteraceae

Agoseris glauca 

(Pursh) Raf.

Mountain dandelion is a taprooted perennial 

with milky sap. Erect or ascending stems 

range from 8–50 cm tall. Leaves form a 

rosette and are smooth or hairy. Leaves are 

lance-shaped and either entire or have a few 

teeth or lobes. Flowering stems have no leaves 

and bear a single ower head. Ray owers 

are bright yellow, strap-like, and when fully 

open, lie at. e pappus is 8–18 mm long 

surmounting a short-beaked achene that is 

4–9 mm long. Agoseris is one of the more important genera; leaves of this species are eaten 

in the late spring and early summer during 

brood rearing. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 5

Asteraceae

Agoseris heterophylla 

(Nutt) Greene

Annual agoseris is an upright, slender annual 

with milky sap. Leaves may have teeth, lobes, or 

can be smooth along the margins. e solitary 

ower head is made up of 2–3 sets of involucre 

bracts with 5 or more bright yellow ray owers. 

Outer bracts are oen purple-spotted, hairy, 

and with dark hairs. e owers frequently 

close up by the aernoon. e achene has a long 

beak that is 7–10 mm long attached to a bristly 

pappus. Agoseris is one of the more important 

genera; leaves of this species are eaten in the 

late spring and early summer during brood 

rearing.

Agoseris parviora 

(Nutt.) D. Dietr.

Sagebrush agoseris is a taprooted perennial 

with milky sap that grows 5–25 cm tall. e 

narrow leaves are 3–15 cm long and pinnately 

divided into 5–8 pairs of linear lobes. e 

leaess stem (scape) is smooth to hairy and 

bears a single owering head. e base of the 

inorescence is hairy. Each ligule is 8–15 cm 

long. Flowers are borne in a hairless or hairy 

involucre with lance-shaped bracts borne in 2 

series. Each bract typically has a purple midvein. Achenes are 5–7 mm long, ribbed with a 

narrow beak that is 4–9 mm long. e bristly 

pappus is 1–2 cm long. Agoseris is one of the 

more important genera; leaves of this species 

are eaten in the late spring and early summer 

during brood rearing.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
6 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Asteraceae

Balsamorhiza hookeri 

Nutt.

Hooker’s balsamroot grows 10–30 cm tall from 

a woody taproot. Basal leaves are 8–25 cm long 

and covered with short, so hairs. Leaves are 

pinnately divided into numerous, overlapping 

segments that are lobed, smooth, or with teeth 

along the margins. Flowering stems are leaess, 

oen purplish, and bear a solitary yellow ower 

head that resembles a sunower. e involucre 

is hemispheric, with lance-shaped, unequal 

bracts that have short hairs along the margins. 

Ray owers are 2.5 cm long and the stems are 

oen purplish. Achenes are 5–7 mm long and 

lack a pappus. While the leaves of Balsamorhiza

are likely too coarse to be eaten, this species 

supports invertebrates likely consumed by the 

birds.

Balsamorhiza sagittata

(Pursh) Nutt.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is a common, large 

perennial with an erect cluster of basal 

leaves and upright stems reaching 20–80 cm 

tall. Leaves are entire, 10–30 cm long, and 

shaped like an arrowhead with long tips and 

rounded or pointed bases. Leaves and stems 

are velvety when young, but become rough 

and papery with age. e leaess owering 

stems bear a solitary yellow ower head like 

that of a sunower, subtended by conspicuous 

wooly bracts. Ray owers are 2–5 cm long. 

Dark grey achenes are 7–9 mm long and lack 

a pappus. While the leaves of Balsamorhiza

are likely too coarse to be eaten, this species 

supports invertebrates likely consumed by the 

birds. 

Tara Luna

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 7

Asteraceae

Chaenactis douglasii 

(Hook.) Hook. & Arn.

Dustymaiden is a perennial or biennial with erect 

to ascending stems. Stems and leaves are shorthairy when young, but become less hairy with 

age. Basal leaves are oblong and twice pinnately 

dissected into small oblong lobes. Flowering 

heads are made up of disc owers, borne in one 

to several open, at-topped inorescences. 

e involucre is bell-shaped with linear- to 

lance-shaped green bracts that are hairy and 

glandular. e corolla is white to pinkish, 5–7 

mm long, with the throat longer than the tube. 

Achenes are 5–8 mm long with a pappus of 

4–20 scales. Leaves and owers are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Crepis acuminata

Nutt.

Tapertip hawksbeard is a taprooted perennial 

with milky sap arising from a swollen woody 

caudex. Stems are erect, 20–60 cm tall and 

usually branched near the middle of the stem. 

Basal leaves are alternate, sparsely hairy, 12–40 

cm long, deeply pinnately lobed and have long 

tapering tips. Each leaf lobe is lance-shaped to 

narrowly triangular, greyish-green and sparsely 

hairy. Stem leaves are similar but are smaller. 

e inorescence bears 30–80 heads borne 

in narrowly cylindrical involucres. Involucre 

bracts are lance-shaped and hairless or sometimes with short hairs. Each head contains 5–10 

yellow ray owers with ligules that are 5–9 mm 

long. Dry achenes are pale brown, 6–9 mm long 

and topped by white capillary bristles. Crepis 

is one of the more important genera; leaves of 

this species are eaten in the late spring and early 

summer during brood rearing. 

Gerald D. Carr
8 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Crepis modocensis

Greene

Modoc hawksbeard is a taprooted perennial with 

milky sap that grows 10–35 cm tall. Leaves and 

stems are greyish and covered with tomentose 

hairs or are coarsely long-hairy. Stems are simple 

or branched and covered with yellowish glands, 

usually on the lower half of the stem. Leaves are 

lance- to oval-shaped, 3–10 cm long and pinnately lobed one-half to three-quarters of the way to 

the mid vein. Lobes are linear- to lance-shaped 

with forward pointed segments and square 

shaped teeth along the margins. Leaf petioles are 

covered with yellowish gland-tipped hairs. Each 

inorescence has 1–9 heads. e involucre is 

turban-shaped, 9–16 mm long with linear, hairy 

bracts covered with black, ne bristles. Each 

head has 10–60 yellow ligulate owers that are 

7–10 mm long. Dry achenes are dark green to 

brown, 4–7 mm long, weakly ribbed, and slightly 

narrowed, but are not beaked. e pappus consists of numerous, dusty-white capillary bristles. 

Crepis is one of the more important genera; 

leaves and owers of this species are eaten, as are 

insects the owers attract.

Asteraceae

Crepis atribarba

A. Heller

Slender hawksbeard is a perennial with milky 

sap and branched, upright stems that are 15–

60 cm tall. Younger plants have short wooly 

hairs, while older plants may become hairless. 

Leaf blades are deeply divided into slender, 

well-separated hook-like lobes. Basal leaves 

have a winged petiole and stem leaves clasp 

directly to the stem. Several ower heads 

occur per owering stem. e involucre is 

turban-shaped, hairy, and oen covered with 

segmented black hairs. ere are 8–35 bright 

yellow ray owers that are 7–12 mm long. 

Achenes are dark green and 3–10 mm long. 

Crepis is one of the more important genera; 

leaves and owers of this species are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 9

Asteraceae

Crepis occidentalis

Nutt.

Western hawksbeard is a taprooted perennial 

with milky sap and leafy stems that are 8–30 cm 

tall. Stems and leaves are greyish and covered 

with dense hairs. Stems are covered with glandtipped bristles on the upper half. Lobes are 

narrowly or widely lance-shaped, recurved, and 

with coarsely toothed segments. Leaf surfaces 

are covered with long greyish hairs. Stem leaves 

are similar, but are smaller. Each inorescence 

has 2–25 heads per inorescence borne in a 

loose, at-topped cluster. e involucre is narrowly bell-shaped, 11–19 mm long, with linear, 

hairy bracts covered with gland-tipped black 

bristles. Each head has 10–40 yellow ligulate 

owers that are 10–15 mm long. Dry achenes 

are brown, 3–7 mm long, ribbed, and beakless. 

e pappus is dusty-white and consists of 

numerous capillary bristles.

Gerald D. Carr

Dieteria canescens 

(Pursh) Nutt.

Hoary aster, formerly Machaeranthera 

canescens, is a somewhat wiry perennial that 

grows 30–100 cm tall. Leaves and stems are 

coated in glands and ne hairs. e habit may 

be upright or spreading with much branching at the base. Leaves are minutely serrate, 

linear, and narrow in shape. Upper leaves may 

clasp directly to the stem or have very short 

petioles. Flower heads have 8–25 purple ray 

owers that are 5–10 mm long, surrounding 

numerous yellow disc owers. e involucre 

is made up of pointed or hook-like rows of 

bracts subtending the ower head. Achenes 

are 3–4 mm long and the pappus consists of 

slender and unequal capillary bristles. Subspecies may dier somewhat in appearance. 

e leaves of this species are too coarse and 

glandular to be eaten, but owers support 

invertebrates likely eaten by the birds.

Gerald D. Carr
10 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Asteraceae

Erigeron corymbosus 

Nutt.

Foothill daisy is an upright perennial that grows 

up to 40 cm tall. Stems and leaves are covered 

with short, so hairs and oen have tiny, scattered glands. Stem and basal leaves are long and 

narrow with smooth margins and pointed tips. 

Stem leaves are similar, but are much smaller. 

Larger leaves oen have three or more obvious 

parallel veins. Each owering stem bears 1–15 

heads. Numerous ray owers are purplish-blue 

or occasionally pink and surround bright yellow 

disc owers. Numerous involucre bracts are of 

equal length, in 2–3 series, short, hairy, and 

minutely glandular. Achenes are 2–3 mm long, 

sparsely hairy with a pappus of numerous capillary bristles with tiny barbs at the tips. Flowers 

are eaten.

Erigeron lifolius 

Nutt.

readleaf eabane is a taprooted perennial with 

numerous slender and delicate stems that are 

20–30 cm tall. Crowded stems give the plant a 

tued appearance. Foliage is gray-green and 

nely hairy. Basal leaves are narrow, numerous, 

and 1–4 cm long. Stem leaves are fewer and 

become threadlike toward the tip. Flower heads 

can be solitary or borne in groups of up to 10 

per stem. Ray owers range from blue to pink 

to white and are 7–11 mm long, surrounding 

bright yellow disc owers. e involucre consists 

of bracts of equal length in two series that are 

covered with spreading hairs and tiny glands. 

Tiny achenes are 1.5 mm long with a pappus of 

20–30 capillary bristles.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. 

Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 11

Asteraceae

Erigeron linearis 

(Hook.) Piper

Desert yellow daisy is a tufted, taprooted 

perennial with stems that are 3–60 cm tall. 

Leaves are very finely linear, narrow with 

smooth margins and are covered with pale 

greyish hairs. Basal leaves are 2.5–10 cm 

long. Stem leaves are fewer and smaller. 

Flower heads are solitary on each stem and 

held above leaves. Ray and disk flowers are 

bright yellow. The involucre is hemispheric 

with bracts in two or three series and is 

sparsely glandular and covered with short, 

stiff hairs. Achenes are 2 mm long and surmounted by 10–20 capillary pappus bristles. 

Flowers are eaten.

Erigeron pumilus 

Nutt.

Shaggy daisy is a taprooted perennial from a 

simple or branched caudex. Stems are oen 

borne in thickened clusters and are densely, 

long-hairy. Basal and stem leaves are linear 

to narrowly oblong with smooth margins, 

long-hairy and 15–40 mm long. Stem leaves 

are gradually reduced in size up the stem. 

Each stem has 1–15 owering heads. ere 

are 50–100 thin, white to pinkish or bluish ray 

owers surrounding yellow disc owers. e 

involucre consists of 2–4 series of bracts that 

are covered with tiny glands, long hairs, and a 

brownish mid-vein. Tiny achenes are 1–2 mm 

long with a pappus of 12–22 capillary bristles. 

e overall appearance of the plant is somewhat 

unkempt and white-hairy. Flowers are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
12 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Asteraceae

Eriophyllum lanatum 

(Pursh) J. Forbes

Oregon sunshine is a taprooted perennial with 

erect stems arising from a branched and woody 

caudex. Stems and leaves are sparsely to densely 

covered with long-woolly hairs. Basal leaves 

are broadly oval with lobes near the tip. Stem 

leaves are lance- or spoon-shaped with smooth 

margins or pinnately divided into 3–7 linear 

lobes. Heads are solitary. ere are 11–13 yellow 

ray owers surrounding numerous disc owers. 

Both ray and disc owers are glandular. Achenes 

are 4-sided, 3–5 mm long, and have a pappus of 

6–12 white scales. e leaves are too hairy and 

glandular to be eaten, however, Oregon sunshine 

supports invertebrates eaten by the birds and 

ower parts are likely eaten during late brood 

rearing and midsummer.

Malacothrix glabrata 

(D.C. Eaton) A. Gray

Desert dandelion is an annual that grows up to 50 

cm tall. Stems are simple or branched at or above 

the base and are smooth or covered with a waxy 

bloom. Basal leaves are oblong to spoon- shaped 

with widely spaced and deeply lobed segments. 

Leaf margins have 3–6 pairs of widely spaced 

teeth or narrow lobes. e inorescence contains 

one to several heads borne on long peduncles. 

e receptacle is densely bristly. Flowers are pale 

yellow to almost white; the ligules of the outermost owers are usually exerted. Ligule tips have 

4–5 teeth. Achenes are 2 mm long surmounted by 

a pappus of numerous capillary bristles. Leaves 

and owers are eaten. 

Gerald D. Carr

Mark Egger
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 13

Asteraceae

Malacothrix torreyi 

A. Gray

Torrey’s desert dandelion is a taprooted annual 

with milky sap that grows 10–20 cm tall. Stems 

are branched at the base and in the inorescence. 

Leaves and stems are sparsely covered with glandular hairs. Basal and stem leaves are glaucous, 

oblong to spoon-shaped with broad petioles and 

are pinnately divided into triangular shaped 

lobes. Usually each inorescence has a few heads. 

e involucre is 8–14 mm long. e lance-shaped 

outer bracts are half the length of inner bracts and 

can be smooth or somewhat glandular. Flowers 

are a medium yellow. Ligules of the outermost 

owers are usually exerted. Achenes are cylindrical, 3–4 mm long with 5 winged-like ribs. e 

pappus consists of deciduous capillary bristles 

and a few persistent thicker bristles. Leaves and 

owers are eaten.

Ben Leggler

Microseris nutans 

(Hook.) Sch. Bip

Nodding microseris is a taprooted perennial 

with milky sap. Stems are erect, branched, and 

leafy on the lower portions. Leaves are linear, 

2–20 cm long, with smooth or remotely pinnately lobed margins. e cup-like involucre consists 

of two series of unequal lance-shaped bracts 

that are covered in black hairs. Flowers open 

during the morning hours. Flower heads appear 

attened when open and contain few to many 

yellow ray owers. e ligule of the ray ower 

is oen purple-veined. e shape of the ower 

head is attened when open, containing 13–50 

yellow strap-like ray owers. Immature ower 

buds are borne on drooping stems that straighten with maturity. ere are 15–30 scale- like and 

silvery pappus bristles, each with a feathery capillary bristle. Pale brown to reddish achenes are 

linear, 3–8 mm long, with 10–15 ribs. Microseris

is one of the more important genera; this species 

has tender leaves and owers that are eaten.

Matt Lavin
14 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Nothocalais troximoides 

(A. Gray) Greene

Sagebrush false dandelion is a perennial with 

milky sap and a deep, thickened taproot. Stems 

are 5–25 cm tall and simple. Leaves are linear- to 

long lance-shaped, 7–15 cm long with smooth 

and wavy margins. Leaves have tiny, sparse, 

short hairs. e involucre is 15–24 mm long, 

with lance-shaped bracts that are oen purple 

spotted or purple on the midrib. Outer phyllary 

bracts are shorter or equal in length to the inner 

phyllary bracts and are smooth or with so, 

white hairs on the margins or midrib. Each solitary head contains few to numerous ray owers. 

Ligules are yellow and 10–20 mm long. Achenes 

are cylindrical, ribbed, 7–13 mm long, with a 

pappus of 10–30 silvery, awn-like scales. is 

species’ leaves and owers are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Asteraceae

Mulgedium pulchellum

(Pursh) D. Donn.

Blue lettuce is a biennial or perennial that 

produces milky sap and spreads by rhizomes. 

Stems grow 14–100 cm tall, bearing numerous leaves with short or absent leaf stalks. 

Basal leaves have longer petioles. Leaf blades 

are oblong, elliptical to lance-shaped with 

smooth, lobed, or pinnately lobed margins. 

Leaf faces are coated with a waxy bloom giving 

the plant a bluish appearance. Each ower 

head contains few to numerous ray owers. 

e involucre is narrowly cylinder-shaped 

with pointed bracts and with shorter bractlets. 

Achenes are cylindrical, ribbed, 7–13 mm long, 

with a pappus of 10–30 silvery, awn-like scales. 

Ray owers are blue. Lance-shaped achenes 

are compressed and without a beak, 4–5 mm 

long, and reddish-brown to black. is species’ 

tender leaves and owers are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 15

Solidago missouriensis 

Nutt.

Missouri goldenrod is a common, rhizomatous 

perennial with clustered or single, erect to ascending 

stems that are 10–80 cm tall. Rhizomes are short or 

long but are thin. Leaves are hairless but can have 

tiny, short hairs along the leaf margins. Basal leaves 

have petioles but cauline leaves oen clasp directly 

to the stem and are smaller. e upper leaf surface 

has 3 prominent leaf veins. Leaf blades are narrowly 

spoon-shaped with rounded tips and can have 

smooth margins or teeth. Fasicles of tiny leaves are 

oen present in the leaf axils. e inorescence is 

pyramidal to oval-shaped, with numerous branches 

that are erect or slightly arched. e involucre is narrowly bell-shaped with unequal bracts in 3–4 rows. 

ere are 5–14 yellow ray owers surrounding 8–20 

yellow disc owers. Achenes are 1–2 mm long, grey, 

with 8–10 tiny ribs and surmounted by a pappus of 

white, capillary bristles. Highly variable with 4–5 

varieties. Flowers appear in late summer to fall and 

support invertebrates consumed by the birds.

Asteraceae

Packera cana 

Hook.

Woolly groundsel is a brous-rooted perennial 

from a branched rhizome or caudex. Plants oen 

form tight mounds. Stems and leaves are densely 

covered in short-woolly, felt-like hairs. Leaves 

become somewhat less hairy to hairless on upper 

leaf surfaces. Basal leaves are linear to ovate with 

smooth or coarsely lobed margins. Stem leaves are 

lance-shaped and without petioles and oen have 

lobes or teeth. e inorescence is a branched attopped corymb, usually bearing numerous heads. 

Each head consist of 8–13 yellow ray owers surrounding tightly packed disc owers in a narrowly 

cylindrical involucre. Involucre bracts are of unequal lengths with a few hairs and usually purplish. 

A few shorter involucre bracts grow at the base. 

Achenes are 5-sided, dark grey, and have a pappus 

of numerous white capillary bristles. e leaves are 

too coarse and the owers are likely too tall to be 

eaten, but the owers likely support invertebrates 

consumed by the birds. Birds eat the owers.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
16 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Stephanomeria exigua 

Nutt.

Small wirelettuce is an annual with milky sap 

that grows up to 200 cm tall. Stems are simple 

and widely spreading with numerous heads. 

Basal leaves are usually withered during owering. Stem leaves are greatly reduced to bract-like 

scales. Each head has 5–11 white to pale pink 

owers. Numerous heads are borne in clusters 

at the nodes of branches or in open panicle-like 

clusters on peduncles that are 10–40 mm long. 

e involucre is 5–7 mm long, smooth or glandular with outer phyllaries that are reexed or 

appressed. Achenes are 2–6 mm long, smooth or 

bumpy and grooved. Pappus bristles are feathery 

and white to tan. Flowers and leaves are eaten. 

James Andre

Asteraceae

Senecio integerrimus 

Nutt.

Western groundsel is a common brous-rooted 

perennial arising from a small caudex. Erect 

stems are up to 90 cm tall and are sparsely 

covered with long, tangled, web-like hairs at 

the base of stems and leaves. Basal and stem 

leaves are lance- to oval-shaped, 2–15 cm 

long, and can have smooth or toothed margins. 

Leaves are usually narrower and with petioles 

on the upper stems. e inorescence is a 

corymb usually bearing numerous heads. e 

involucre bracts are unequal, sparsely hairy 

and oen have black tips. Densely packed 

disc owers are surrounded by 8–13 yellow 

ray owers. Achenes are 2–4 mm long and 

have short hairs on the ribs. e pappus is o-

white to light tan. is species provides good 

substrate for invertebrates eaten by birds.

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 17

Asteraceae

Stephanomeria tenuifolia 

(Raf.) H.M. Hall

Bush wirelettuce is a perennial with milky sap. 

Plants can be taprooted or spread into clumps 

from short rhizomes. Stems are 30–75 cm tall 

and branched. Linear leaves can have smooth 

margins or widely spaced teeth. Basal leaves are 

usually absent during owering. e inorescence bears several heads. Each head contains 

5–6 pink to white ray owers with ligules that 

are 5–12 mm long. e involucre is 7–10 mm 

long, cylindrical with green phyllaries in 2 series. 

Outer phyllaries are shorter than the inner 

phyllaries. Achenes are cylindrical, 5-angled, 

smooth, and 3–6 mm long, surmounted by 

white, feathery pappus bristles. e leaves and 

owers are eaten by the birds.

Symphyotrichum ascendens 

(Lindl.) G.L. Nesom

Long-leaved aster is a slender, long-rhizomatous 

perennial with erect or somewhat spreading 

stems. Stems are up to 60 cm tall and usually 

have sparse, sti hairs. Leafy shoots in the leaf 

axils are absent. Basal leaves are narrow and 

lance-shaped, 5–30 cm long, and with petioles. 

Stem leaves are much shorter and directly clasp 

to the stem. Basal leaves are oen withered 

at owering. e inorescence has multiple 

branches that bear small ower heads, borne on 

sparsely and short-sti hairy peduncles. ere 

are 15–40 blue to pink ray owers, 5–10 mm 

long, surrounding 15–40 yellow disc owers. e 

tips of the disc owers are oen purple-tipped. 

e bell-shaped involucre consists of bracts in 

several series and of unequal lengths. Outer 

involucre bracts are oblong, nely sti-hairy with 

green tips and white bases. Achenes are hairy 

and 2–3 mm long, surmounted by a pappus of 

barb-tipped capillary bristles. e owers are 

eaten if within reach, and they provide good 

substrate for invertebrates. Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
18 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Campanulaceae

Nemacladus rigidus 

Curran

Stoutstem threadplant is a prostrate annual 

frequently found in sandy soils. Stems are 

spreading, branched from the base, 9–10 cm 

long, shiny and purple at the base. Leaves are 

alternate, 5–10 mm long, elliptical to spoonshaped, eshy, hairy, with smooth or scalloped 

margins. e inorescence is strongly zigzag, 

with tiny, elliptical leafy bracts at the base of 

spreading or reexed pedicels. e distinctive 

ower is white, 2-lipped, with 3 upper, ovalshaped petals that are maroon tipped or with 

maroon veins. Middle sepals are linear-elliptical and the 2 anking sepals are widely 

triangular. Flowers are not inverted during 

anthesis. e fruit is 3–4 mm long with an 

oblique base and a pointed tip. ere are wide 

zigzag ridges across pitted, longitudal rows on 

the seed surface. e small leaves and owers 

are likely eaten.

Caryophyllaceae

Cerastium arvense 

L.

Field chickweed is a loosely matted perennial 

with trailing stems that are branched near the 

upper half of the stem. Leaves are opposite, 

1–3 cm long, lance to oblong with reduced, 

fasicled leaves on the lower stems and non-owering stems. e inorescence is covered with 

glands, bearing several owers and thin, dry, 

papery margined bracts. Sepals are 4–7 mm 

long. e 5 white, 2-lobed and clawed petals 

are 6–10 mm long. ere are 5 styles. Dry 

capsules are 7–11 mm long, cylindrical, with 

10 teeth at the opened end. Seeds are 1–1.5 

mm long and brown to reddish-brown. e 

small leaves and owers are likely eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Mark Egger
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 19

Caryophyllaceae

Eremogone aculeata 

(S. Watson) Ikonn.

Needleleaf sandwort is a mat-forming perennial from a branched caudex. Erect stems are 

5–25 cm tall. Needle-like leaves are opposite, 

sti, waxy blue-green, 10–25 mm long and 

shorter on the upper stem. e inorescence is 

an open cyme that is covered with dark-tipped 

glands and hairs. e 5 sepals are oval with a 

pointed tip, sparsely or densely covered with 

stalked glands and have papery, dry margins. 

Petals are broadest and rounded at the tips, 

white, and 4–10 mm long. Flowering pedicels 

are covered with stalked glands. Dry capsules 

are smooth, 5–9 mm long, and bear numerous 

yellowish seeds. e owers are eaten but the 

needle–like leaves are probably too sharp for 

the birds to consume.

Eremogone capillaris 

Poir.

Mountain sandwort is a perennial forming 

dense or loose mats from a branched caudex. 

Stems are erect, 5–25 cm tall, green or waxy 

bluish-green, and oen have a somewhat woody 

base. Needle-like leaves are opposite, threadlike and exible, hairless, 10–40 mm long, and 

shorter on the upper stem. e inorescence is 

a few-owered or rarely congested cyme that 

is covered with gland-tipped hairs. e 5 sepals 

are oval-shaped with rounded or pointed tips. 

Petals are spatula-shaped, broadest at the tips, 

white, and 4–8 mm long. Flowering pedicels 

are covered with stalked glands or are glandless. Dry capsules are smooth or glandular, 5–8 

mm long, and bear numerous brown to black 

seeds. e owers are eaten but the needle-like 

leaves are too threadlike to be consumed. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
20 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Caryophyllaceae

Eremogone congesta 

Nutt.

Dense-owered sandwort is a perennial 

forming loose mats from a branched caudex. 

Stems are erect, 5–30 cm tall, green or waxy 

bluish-green and oen have a somewhat woody 

base. Needle-like leaves are opposite, threadlike, rigid or exible, hairless, 2–8 cm long, and 

shorter on the upper stem. e inorescence 

bears owers in a congested or open cyme that 

is without glands or hairs. e 5 sepals are 

oval to lance-shaped, with rounded or pointed 

tips, 3–6 mm long, hairless, and have papery, 

dry margins. Petals are oblong, 5–8 mm long, 

white with rounded or with shallowly notched 

tips. Flowering pedicels are oen only 1–2 

mm long, and are without glands and hairs. 

Dry capsules are smooth, 3–6 mm long, and 

bear numerous reddish-brown to black seeds. 

Highly variable with 9 recognized varieties. e 

glandless, hairless, and congested inorescence 

distinguishes most varieties from E. capillaris. 

e owers are eaten but the thread-like leaves 

are not.

Eremogone kingii 

(S. Watson) M.E. Jones

King’s sandwort is a perennial forming 

loose mats or tight cushions from a loosely 

branched, non-woody caudex. Erect stems 

are 10–30 cm tall. Needle-like leaves are 

opposite, thread-like, exible or somewhat 

rigid, sparsely short-hairy or hairless and green 

to greyish-green. Leaves on the upper stems 

are shorter. ere are several owers in an 

open, sparsely gland-covered inorescence. 

Sepals are smooth or with glands, narrowly 

oval to lance- shaped with sharp-pointed tips. 

Sepal margins are papery and dry with deep 

green centers and are 3–6 mm long. Petals 

are spatula-shaped and occasionally 2-lobed, 

white, and 5–7 mm long. Flowers pedicels can 

be covered with stalked glands or smooth. 

Smooth, dry capsules are 4–7 mm long bearing numerous tiny, brown to black seeds. e 

owers are eaten but the needle-like leaves are 

too threadlike to be consumed. 

Gerald D. Carr

Jean Pawek
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 21

Caryophyllaceae

Minuartia nuttallii 

(Pax.) Briq.

Nuttall’s sandwort is a mat-forming perennial 

from a branched caudex. Erect stems are 5–25 

cm tall. Needle-like leaves are opposite, sti, 

waxy blue-green, 10–25 mm long, and shorter 

on the upper stem. e inorescence is an open 

cyme that is covered with dark-tipped glands 

and hairs. e 5 sepals are oval with a pointed 

tip, sparsely or densely covered with stalked 

glands and have papery, dry margins. Petals are 

broadest and rounded at the tips, white, and 

4–10 mm long. Flowering pedicels are covered 

with stalked glands. Dry capsules are smooth, 

5–9 mm long, and bear numerous yellowish 

seeds. e owers are eaten but the sti leaves 

are likely not consumed.

Silene douglasii 

Hooker

Douglas’ catchy is a taprooted perennial 

from a nely branched caudex. Stems are 

single or several, 10–50 cm tall that are 

smooth to nely-short, greyish hairy below 

the inorescence. Basal leaves are narrowly 

spoon-shaped and numerous. Stem leaves 

are linear to linear-spoon-shaped and 1–6 

cm long. Each inorescence usually has 1–5 

owers. e calyx is bell-shaped, 12–15 mm 

long, inated at maturity, green or sometimes purplish, short-hairy and glandless, 

with 10 prominent nerves. White petals are 

clawed, 4–6 mm long, shallowly 2-lobed with 

2 obvious appendages. ere are 3–5 styles. 

Dry capsules are equal in length to the calyx 

and open by 3–5 slits. Seeds are brown and 

1.5 mm long. Flowers are eaten and provide 

good substrate for invertebrates but the leaves 

are usually too glandular or nely hairy to be 

consumed.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
22 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Caryophyllaceae

Silene menziesii 

Hook.

Menzies’ catchy is a rhizomatous perennial. 

Individual plants bear either all male or all 

female owers. Stems are numerous, trailing or 

branched, and 5–40 cm long. Foliage is nely 

hairy or glandular. Numerous stem leaves are 

narrowly lance-shaped to elliptical and 2–5 

cm long. ere are fewer basal leaves. e 

inorescence bears few to numerous owers in 

a glandular-hairy, leafy cyme. e calyx is bellshaped, 5–8 mm long and obscurely 10-veined. 

e calyx becomes swollen in fruit. White petals are clawed, 2-lobed and 1–1.5 times longer 

than the calyx. Petal lobes are 4–6 mm long. 

Female owers have 3 styles. e dry capsule 

is slightly longer than the calyx and opens by 

3 slits. Tiny, black seeds are 0.5–1 mm long. 

Flowers are eaten and provide good substrate 

for invertebrates but the leaves are usually too 

glandular or nely hairy to be consumed.

Stellaria longipes 

Muhl. Ex Willd.

Long-stalked starwort is a hairless perennial 

with long trailing and 4-angled stems. Leaves 

are opposite, without petioles, and narrowly lance-shaped. e inorescence is a few 

owered cyme or occasionally with solitary 

owers. Leafy bracts are lance-shaped, 2–10 

mm long, with smooth margins or with ne 

short hairs. Sepals are narrowly oval, 3-veined, 

and 3–5 mm long. White, 2-lobed petals are 

3–8 mm long. ere are 5–10 stamens. Dry 

oval capsules are 3–6 mm long and open by 

6 slits. Tiny seeds are reddish brown, slightly 

roughened, and 1 mm long. Flowers and leaves 

are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 23

Crassulaceae

Sedum lanceolatum 

Torr.

Spearleaf stonecrop is a succulent perennial with 

branched, creeping leafy stems. Flower bearing 

stems are erect, usually leaess during anthesis, 

and bear numerous 5-petaled, star-shaped yellow 

owers in an open cyme. ere are 5 lance- to 

oval-shaped sepals that are yellowish green and 5 

yellow to reddish stamens. Non-owering stems 

are leafy with lance-shaped, dull green to greygreen, rounded, eshy leaves that are 5–20 mm 

long and alternately arranged. Dry follicles are 

3–5 mm long. Seeds are thin, linear, and 1 mm 

long. Tender leaves are eaten.

Fabaceae

Astragalus conjunctus 

S. Watson

Idaho milkvetch is a perennial with several 

upright stems arising from a branched caudex. 

Leaves and stems are nely greyish-green to 

green. Leaves can be hairless or nely sti-

hairy. Leaves are divided into 17–37 narrow 

leaets that are up to 25 mm long with rounded 

tips. Sti, thickened owering stems bear 7–35 

tight or loosely clustered owers. Flowers are 

white to creamy white or are purplish tinged. 

e upright banner petal is longer than the 

lateral wing petals and keel petal. e calyx is 

covered with greyish to black hairs and is 8–12 

mm long with free tips that are 2.5–5 mm long. 

e erect pod is smooth and 1.5–3 cm long with 

a pointed beak and prominent lower suture. 

Each pod contains several smooth seeds that 

are compressed and notched near the middle. 

e owers and leaves are eaten and support 

invertebrates.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
24 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Fabaceae

Astragalus curvicarpus 

(A. Heller) J.M. Macbr.

Sickle milkvetch is a perennial with decumbent or ascending stems that are 20–50 cm 

long. Leaves and stems are grayish and covered with finely appressed hairs. Leaves are 

4–10 cm long, with 9–17 oblong leaflets with 

notched or rounded tips. Leaf penduncles are 

equal in length to the leaf blade, but elongate 

during flowering to twice the length of the 

leaf blade. Stipules are attached to the leaf 

petiole but are not fused. The inflorescence is 

a tight to loose raceme of 10–40 pea-shaped, 

pale yellow to whitish flowers. The banner 

petal is well reflexed and greater than 15 mm 

long. Wing petals are 2–7 mm longer than the 

keel petal. The calyx is slightly inflated with 

short teeth and is usually covered with fine 

hairs. The distinctive pods are 2–3.5 cm long 

and curved 1⁄4 to a full circle, compressed, 

sparsely hairy and have a prominent suture. 

Dry pods are stiff-papery with one chamber. 

Each pod contains several smooth seeds that 

are compressed and notched near the middle. 

The flowers and leaves are eaten and support 

invertebrates.

Astragalus lipes 

Torr. ex A. Gray

Basalt milkvetch is a loosely clumped perennial 

with multiple slender stems that are 30–45 cm 

tall. Leaves are alternate and pinnately divided 

into 9–25 widely spaced leaets that are linear 

to linear-lance shaped, borne on petioles 

that are longer than the leaves. Stipules are 

triangular and fused below with free tips and 

are papery. e inorescence is a raceme of 

4–30 loosely packed and pendant cream to 

pale yellow owers. e calyx is covered with 

black hairs or partially white hairs. e ower 

has an erect banner petal and rounded wing 

petals that are slightly longer than the keel 

petal. Pendulous pods are attened, tapered at 

the ends, and have obvious suture lines. Pods 

become papery and split open at maturity. 

e owers and leaves are eaten and support 

invertebrates.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 25

Fabaceae

Astragalus lentiginosus 

Douglas

Freckled milkvetch has many spreading or 

sprawling stems and grows 10–50 cm tall. Leaves 

are alternate, pinnately-divided and usually 

hairless. ere are up to 19 oval-shaped leaets 

with blunt, rounded, or indented tips. Stipules 

are lance-shaped and distinct. ere are up to 

50 owers per inorescence, which is oen 

shorter than the leaves. Pea-shaped owers 

are creamy-white or yellowish, sometimes 

with purplish tips. e banner petal is 8–13 

mm long and the keel petal is 6–8 mm long. 

Calyx lobes covered with white hairs. Pods are 

freckled and inated, with obvious grooves 

above and below and that narrow to a curved 

and attened tip. Each pod contains few to 

several notched and compressed seeds. Highly 

variable with several distinct varieties. e 

owers and leaves are eaten.

Astragalus malacus 

A. Gray

Shaggy milkvetch is a perennial with a woody 

taproot with one to several erect to trailing 

stems. Stems and leaves are covered with 

ne, grey hairs. Leaves are pinnately divided 

into 11–19 oblong leaets with notched or 

rounded tips. Leaves are crowded at the stem 

tips. e inorescence is a congested raceme 

bearing 10–40 deep magenta owers. Flowers 

are occasionally creamy white with purplish 

tips. Wing petals are shorter than the recurved 

banner and nearly equal in length to the keel 

petal. e pod is stalkless or nearly so, densely 

short-hairy and mottled. e lower suture is 

deeply intruded and almost divides the pod 

into partitions. e pod is more or less 3-sided 

with 2 chambers. Each chamber bears one to few, 

notched, and compressed seeds. e owers are 

eaten and support invertebrates. Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
26 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Fabaceae

Astragalus newberryi 

A. Gray

Newberry’s milkvetch is a tued perennial with 

a long stout taproot and branched crown. Stems 

are almost lacking. Leaves are densely tued, 

3–12 cm long and pinnately divided into 5–13 

oval leaets. Leaves are densely so hairy. Each 

raceme bears 2–6 owers just above the leaves. 

Flowers are purple to rose-purple and 2–2.5 

cm long with erect, upright banner petals and 

shorter wing petals. e calyx is 10–16 mm 

long, densely greyish and covered with black 

hairs. Pods are stalkless and almost completely 

concealed by dense, woolly hairs. Mature pods 

are woody, one-celled and slightly inated. Seeds 

are solitary or few per pod. e owers are eaten 

and support invertebrates.

Astragalus obscurus

S. Watson

Arcane milkvetch is a perennial with prostrate 

to tued stems that are widely branched and 

less than 15 cm long. Herbage 

is sparsely covered with sti, 

straight, appressed hairs. Stipules 

are triangular and 3–4 mm 

long. Leaves are 2.5–10 cm long 

and consist of 5–15 thickened, 

elliptical to oblong leaets that 

are widely spaced. Each leaet 

has a rounded tip and is 5–10 

mm long. e inorescence is a 

dense raceme consisting of 5–15 

dusty white to cream colored, 

pea-shaped owers. Petals can 

be somewhat lavender tinged. 

e banner petal is recurved to 

a 45 degree angle, notched at the 

tip and 7–10.5 mm long. Wing 

petals are shorter. e keel petal 

is 6–10 mm long. e calyx is 4–6 mm long 

and covered with ne straight hairs. Erect, dry 

pods are 10–25 mm long, sub-sessile, bluntly 

3-sided with a prominent, thick upper suture. 

Each pod contains few to several, notched, and 

compressed seeds. e leaves and owers are 

eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 27

Fabaceae

Astragalus purshii 

Hook.

Woollypod milkvetch is a densely tued 

perennial arising from a branched caudex. 

Herbage is densely covered with long, tangled, 

woolly-white hairs. Prostrate stems are 5–10 cm 

long. Stipules cloth the stem bases, are longer 

than the internodes, and are oval to broadly 

lance-shaped. Leaves are closely crowded, 2–15 

cm long with 7–19 elliptic to nearly rounded 

leaets, densely covered with long, white, 

tangled hairs. Racemes are short to elongated, 

bearing 3–10, yellowish-white to pale lavender 

or deep red, pea-shaped owers. e banner 

petal is 9–26 mm long and recurved to a 

40 degree angle. e keel petal is 8–21 mm 

long. e calyx is tubular, covered with black 

to greyish-hairs and is half the length of the 

corolla. Dry pods are stalkless, 7–27 mm long, 

densely white-hairy and straight or slightly 

curved. Several recognized varieties. Pods 

have 1 or 2 chambers, depending on variety, 

but usually contain one or more seeds. e 

owers are eaten and support invertebrates.

Astragalus whitneyi 

A. Gray

Balloon milkvetch is a perennial with a heavy 

taproot and woody, branched caudex. Stems 

and leaves are greyish-green to green and 

nely short-hairy. Stems are decumbent with 

more or less tued leaves with 11–17 leaets. 

Stipules are fused on the lower stem and purplish. Compact racemes contain 5–20 creamy 

white to lavender owers that are 10 mm long. 

e banner petal is longer than the wings and 

keel. e calyx is half as long as the oral tube 

and nely sti-hairy. One-chambered pods are 

pendulous, membranous, inated, and strongly mottled with purple spots. Each pod usually 

has several, notched and compressed seeds per 

pod. Several recognized varieties. e owers 

and leaves are eaten. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
28 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Fabaceae

Dalea ornata 

(Douglas ex Hook.) Eaton & J. Wright

Western prairie clover is a perennial with 

erect and brittle stems that are 30–45 cm tall. 

Numerous stems arise from a small caudex. 

There are 5–7 oval-shaped leaflets that are 

covered with dotted glands. Flower heads 

are a cone-shaped spike and densely packed 

with thick, silky hairs. Pea-shaped flowers are 

rose to fuchsia to purple and have 5 stamens. 

The entire plant has a pleasant, minty aroma. 

The pod does not split open at maturity 

and contains one seed. Seeds are somewhat 

kidney-shaped, tan, and 1–2 mm long. Birds 

eat the flowers and leaves.

Hedysarum boreale 

Nutt.

Boreal sweetvetch is a perennial with ascending 

to erect stems 10–40 cm tall. Herbage is sparsely 

to densely covered with ne, greyish-white hairs. 

Leaves are odd-pinnately compound with 7–15 

lance-shaped leaets with rounded tips. Each 

leaet is 1–3 cm long. Stipules are long and fused 

into a tube around the stem. e inorescence 

is a narrow raceme, bearing numerous pink 

to purple pea-shaped owers. e keel petal is 

prow-like, 10–18 mm long, exceeding the length 

of the wing petals. e calyx lobes are linear and 

nearly equal in length. Dry pods are attened 

loments, constricted around each seed. Each pod 

has 2–6 segments and is veined across the face of 

the fruit. Kidney-shaped seeds are red to reddish 

brown and 4–5 mm long. Birds eat the owers 

and leaves.

Gerald D. Carr

Tara Luna
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 29

Fabaceae

Lathyrus pauciorus 

Fernald

Steppe sweetpea is a taprooted perennial with 

short, slender rootstocks. Leaves and stems are 

hairless. Stems are strongly 4-angled but not 

winged and 40–100 cm tall. Leaves are terminated by a leafy tendril. Leaves have 6–10 pairs of 

thick and somewhat eshy linear to lance-shaped 

leaets that are 8–10 cm long. Each raceme has 

4–10, orchid to pinkish-lavender, pea-shaped 

owers. Flowers fade to bluish with age and are 

16–18 mm long. e banner petal is usually purplish on the back. Wing petals are equal in length 

to the banner and can be almost white to pale 

lavender. e keel petal is white to bluish with a 

strongly recurved tip. e calyx is 8–10 mm long, 

hairless or with short hairs on the teeth margins. 

Dry pods are 3–5 cm long and hairless. Seeds are 

brown and smooth.

Trifolium eriocephalum 

Nutt.

Woollyhead clover is a thick-taprooted perennial with several stems arising from a branched 

root crown. Stems are 20–60 cm tall with oval 

to lance-shaped stipules. Stems and leaves are 

sparsely to densely hairy. ere are 3 elliptical, 

oval to almost linear leaets, 2–7 cm long with 

entire or nely toothed margins. Dense head 

like racemes arise from terminal or axillary 

stems above the leaves. Each head has 25–80 

owers, pinkish to red and 12–17 mm long. e 

corolla is slightly bent downwards. e calyx 

is covered with long, feathery hairs, slightly 

inated and is at least half the length of the 

corolla. Calyx lobes are longer than the tube. 

Dry pods are hairy and 2–3 mm long with 1–4 

seeds. Flowers and leaves are eaten by the birds.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
30 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Vicia americana 

Mulh. ex Willd.

American vetch is a vining perennial with 

prostrate to climbing stems 10–100 cm long. 

Leaves are odd-pinnately compound, with the 

terminal leaet modied into a branched or 

unbranched tendril. Leaves have 6–14 oval to 

linear leaets, 1–4 cm long, with rounded or 

short-sharply pointed tips. Leaves and stems are 

hairless or sparsely covered with short straight 

hairs. e inorescence bears 2–8 owers, arising 

from axillary stems that are usually borne on 

one side of the stem axis. Flowers are blue to 

purple, 14–22 mm long with a reexed banner 

petal that is longer than the keel petal. e calyx 

is sparsely hairy or hairless with tips that are 

1–3 mm long. Dry pods are narrowly elliptical 

and 2–3 cm long containing brown, round 

seeds. Flowers and leaves are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Fabaceae

Trifolium macrocephalum 

(Pursh) Poir.

Big head clover is a rhizomatous perennial 

with thick stems up to 45 cm tall. Leaves and 

stems are soly hairy. Leaves are palmately 

divided into 7–9 lance-shaped, thick leaets 

with rounded tips and a pale band across their 

width. e ower head is a rounded cone or 

tu of owers that can be 7 cm long when in 

fullest bloom. Flowers are oen 2-toned; white 

with pink or purple. e entire corolla is 2–2.7 

cm long. Calyx tubes have 10 veins and calyx 

lobes are longer than the tube. Pods are round 

to kidney-shaped containing 1–3 seeds. Leaves 

and owers are eaten. Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 31

Geraniaceae

Geranium carolinianum 

L.

Carolina geranium is an annual with branched 

erect stems that are 15–40 cm tall. Foliage 

is hairless or nely long-so hairy and the 

inorescence is covered with glands. Leaves 

are heart-shaped at the base and somewhat 

rounded, 2–7 cm wide, and divided nearly to 

the midvein into 3–5 lobed segments. ere 

are 5 oval-shaped sepals that are 2–4 mm long. 

ere are 5 light pink to pink petals that are 

3–5 mm long that are slightly notched and 10 

stamens. Dry capsules split at the base into 5 

sections, with each segment curling upward to 

disperse the seed. Fruits and seeds are covered 

with long, sti hairs.

Geranium viscosissimum 

Fisch & C.A. Mey.

Sticky geranium is a stout perennial with erect 

stems that are 15–90 cm tall. Stems and leaves 

are covered with short to long, gland-tipped 

hairs. e inorescence is usually more hairy 

and glandular than the leaves and lower stems. 

Leaves are heart-shaped at the base, rounded in 

outline, 5–14 cm wide and deeply cut into 5–7 

lobed segments. ere are 5 sepals, 8–12 mm 

long with bristles at the tips and 5 petals, 5–12 

mm long that are rose to purple, surrounding 10 

stamens. Dry capsules are 25–40 mm long and 

split into 5 sections, with each segment curling 

upward to disperse the oblong seed. Birds eat the 

owers but the sticky, glandular leaves are likely 

avoided. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
32 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Hydrophyllaceae

Hesperochiron pumilus 

(Griseb.) Porter

Dwarf hesperochiron is a perennial with 2–10 

leaves forming a loose rosette from slender 

rhizomes. Leaves are somewhat eshy, smooth, 

or slightly hairy along the margins, linear to 

oblong or spoon-shaped, 2–7 cm long and less 

than 2 cm wide. Each inorescence usually has 

1–8 owers. Peduncles and owering pedicels 

are covered with gland-tipped hairs. Flowers 

have 5 white to pink, broadly oval, widely 

spreading petals, 7–12 mm long with rounded 

tips, dark purple lines and a bright yellow base. 

ere are 5 green, lance-shaped sepals that are 

sparsely hairy and have awn-like tips. Five stamens bear purplish-black anthers. Dry capsules 

are oval and covered with hairs and contain 

numerous angular seeds. Leaves and owers 

of this “chick-sized” plant are eaten.

Hydrophyllum capitatum 

Douglas ex Benth.

Ballhead waterleaf is a brous-rooted perennial 

with erect to ascending stems that are 5–25 cm 

tall. Leaves and stems are sparsely covered with 

long, so hairs or short, rigid, appressed hairs. 

Leaves are 3–10 cm long, pinnately divided into 

7–11 stalkless, oval to lobed leaets. Leaves 

are borne on long petioles. e inorescence 

is a ball-shaped cyme that is borne below the 

subtending leaf. Flowers are funnel shaped. 

Five, fused, lavender to white petals surround 

5, exerted, purple-tipped stamens and a 2-lobed 

style. e 5 sepals are usually long-hairy. Dry 

oval capsules contain 1–3 seeds. Leaves and 

owers are eaten.

Tanya Harvey

Tanya Harvey
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 33

Hydrophyllaceae

Phacelia glandulifera 

Piper

Sticky phacelia is an aromatic annual with 

branched stems that are 5–25 cm tall. Leaves 

and stems are densely covered with short hairs 

and dark, sticky glands. Leaves are oblong to 

spoon-shaped, deeply divided or lobed into 

linear to narrowly oblong segments with 

rounded tips and coarsely toothed margins. 

e coiled inorescence does not exceed 

the uppermost leaves and bears numerous, 

5-lobed, funnel-shaped owers that are white, 

blue, or lavender with yellow throats. e calyx is 

densely glandular-hairy with 5 free linear-shaped 

lobes. Small, dry capsules are partly enclosed 

in the sticky calyx and contain a single reddish, 

deeply pitted seed. Birds eat the leaves and 

owers.

Gerald D. Carr

Phacelia hastata 

Ex Lehm. v. hastata

Silverleaf phacelia is spreading perennial from 

a branched caudex. Stems are ascending to 

erect and 5–40 cm long. Leaves and stems are 

densely covered with long silvery hairs and 

somewhat sticky, thicker hairs. Basal and stem 

leaves are similar, 2–10 cm long, elliptical to 

oblong with smooth margins or more rarely, a 

pair of basal lobes. Leaf veins are prominent 

and deeply sunken on the upper leaf surface. 

e inorescence is a terminal or axillary 

coiled cyme bearing numerous bell-shaped 

owers with 5 spreading lobes. e corolla 

is white or slightly lavender, 4–7 mm long, 

with lobes that are 2–4 mm long. e calyx 

is covered with long and short, sticky hairs. 

Stamens are well exerted beyond the corolla 

lobes and are hairy. e style is exerted and 

deeply divided. Dry, sti capsules are 2–4 mm 

long and bear 2 seeds. e owers are eaten 

and provide good substrate for invertebrates; 

the leaves are too glandular and hairy to be 

eaten.

Gerald D. Carr
34 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Hydrophyllaceae

Phacelia heterophylla 

Pursh

Varileaf phacelia is a taprooted biennial or short 

lived perennial with erect, simple stems that are 

20–80 cm tall. Basal and stem leaves are similar 

in appearance, 2–10 cm long, lance-shaped to 

narrowly spoon-shaped with smooth margins. 

Leaves and stems oen with bristly or glandular 

hairs. Leaf veins are prominent and sunken on 

the upper leaf surface. Some or most of the basal 

leaves have one or more pairs of basal lobes. e 

inorescence is a narrow, compact coiling cyme. 

e corolla is white to blue, bell-shaped with 5 

widely spreading lobes. Five, hairy stamens are 

well exerted beyond the corolla lobes. e style is 

deeply divided and exerted. e calyx is covered 

with short hairs and is glandular. Dry capsules are 

1.5–2.5 mm long and enclosed in the glandular 

and hairy calyx. Seeds are elliptical, deeply pitted 

and brown. e owers are eaten and provide 

good substrate for invertebrates; the leaves are too 

glandular and hairy to be eaten.  Tanya Harvey

Phacelia linearis 

(Pursh) Holz

readleaf phacelia is an annual with simple 

or branched, erect stems that are 5–40 cm 

tall. Stems are sparsely, short hairy. Leaves 

are linear to lance-shaped with short petioles, 

1–5 cm long and oen have 1–2 pairs of 

basal lobes. Leaf blade surfaces are covered 

with short-sti and longer-so hairs. e 

inorescence is a crowded, few-owered 

cyme. e 5-lobed calyx is covered with short 

sticky hairs and is 5–7 mm long. e corolla 

is broadly bell-shaped, blue to lavender with 

white throats. e corolla is 8–12 mm long 

with lobes that are 4–6 mm long. e shorthairy, white to purple stamens and shortbranched style are exerted beyond the corolla 

lobes. Dry capsules are sparsely short hairy 

and 5–8 mm long. Seeds are covered with netlike veins. e owers are eaten and provide 

good substrate for invertebrates; the leaves are 

too glandular and hairy to be eaten. Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 35

Liliaceae

Allium anceps 

Kellogg

Kellogg’s onion produces single or clustered 

bulbs that are not attached to a rhizome. e 

outer bulb coat is brown, membranous with 

prominent rectangular-shaped netting in 

vertical rows. Leaves wither during owering. 

Leaves are linear, solid in cross section, at, 

somewhat sickle-shaped and 7–26 cm long. e 

inorescence is hemispheric-shaped bearing 

15–35 owers. Pink owers are star-shaped 

with 6 pinkish tepals with green mid-veins, 

surrounding 6 stamens and a 3-parted pistil. 

Seed capsules contain dull, blackish seeds. 

More common in Oregon. Leaves and owers 

are eaten.

James Moreeld

Allium tolmiei 

Baker

Tolmei’s onion produces new bulbs within the 

bulb coat of the parent bulb, which is often 

withered or absent at time of flowering. Outer bulb coats are brown, membranous, and 

lack any obvious netting except at the very 

base of the bulb. The 2 flat, thick leaves are 

sickle-shaped. The flowering stem is strongly 

flattened and often has narrow wings along 

the margins. The inflorescence is a tight 

to loose umbel bearing up to 50 flowers. 

Pink or white tepals are lance-shaped, have 

prominent midveins, and enrolled tips. Seed 

capsules contain dull black, wrinkled seeds 

that are 2 mm long. Mostly in Oregon and 

southeastern Idaho. The flowers and leaves 

are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr
36 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Liliaceae

Calochortus macrocarpus 

Douglas

Sagebrush mariposa lily is a slender perennial 

arising from a brous-coated bulb. Stems are 

slender, sti, and grow 18–60 cm tall. Stems and 

the single leaf are coated with a waxy bloom, 

giving it a bluish-green color. e single leaf is 

usually withered at owering. Showy owers 

have 3 lavender petals and 3 sepals. e sepals 

appear petal-like, but are longer and narrower 

than the petals. Petals are marked by a band of 

deep purple and a fringe of hairs near the center 

of the ower. e undersurface of each petal has 

a green stripe. Dry capsules are erect, 3-sided, 

and somewhat angular. Seeds are light yellow to 

tan, attened, and slightly inated. Leaves and 

owers are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Loasaceae

Mentzelia albicaulis 

Hook.

Whitestem blazingstar is a stout, branched 

annual that grows from 5–42 cm tall. Stems 

are distinctly white and can be hairy or 

smooth. Lower leaves are lobed while upper 

stem leaves can be lobed or smooth. Leaves, 

stems, and fruits are coated with tiny, barbed 

hairs. e inorescence arises from leaf axils 

or from branched terminal stems. Subtending 

ower bracts are usually green, lance-shaped 

to oval, with smooth or 3-toothed margins. 

Petals are up to 8 mm long, pale yellow with 

a darker orange base. e 5 fused, densely 

barbed and hairy sepals form a long tube. 

Dry, tubular, woody-like capsules are strongly 

curved and 8–34 mm long. Seeds are tan to 

black, irregularly rounded to angular above 

the mid-section and are wingless. Seed coat 

surfaces have tiny raised points or bumps. 

Leaves and owers are eaten.

Tanya Harvey
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 37

Gerald D. Carr

Loasaceae

Mentzelia dispersa 

Wats.

Bushy blazingstar is an annual with erect 

hairy stems that are 7–48 cm tall. Leaves are 

less than 10 cm long and can be 

smooth or toothed. Inorescence 

bracts are smooth or lobed, 

oval to round and green. Sepals 

are 1.5–3.5 mm long and fused 

into a long, hairy tube. Petals 

are yellow, 4–8 mm long, oval 

to broadly spoon-shaped with a 

darker yellow base. Dry capsules 

are erect to curved, 7–35 mm 

long and narrowly cylindrical. 

Seeds are prism-shaped or triangular in cross-section, tan to dark 

mottled, and have grooved edges. 

e owers and leaves are eaten if 

within reach of the birds.

Mentzelia laevicaulis 

(Douglas ex Hook.) Torr. & A. Gray

Giant blazingstar is a stout, branched biennial 

to perennial that grows from 22–100 cm tall. 

Stems are erect and hairy or smooth. Lower 

leaves are less than 24 cm long, narrowly spoonshaped and pinnately lobed. Upper stem leaves 

are 2–10 cm long, lance-shaped with sharply 

or bluntly serrated leaf margins. e inorescence arises from leaf axils or from branched 

terminal stems. Subtending ower bracts are 

usually green, lance-shaped, smooth or deeply 

4–5 lobed. Showy petals are bright to pale 

yellow, 40–80 mm long, surrounding numerous 

stamens that are 15–55 mm long. e 5 fused, 

densely hairy sepals form a long tube that is 

15–46 mm long. Dry, tubular, woody capsules 

are straight and 15–44 mm long. Seeds are 

winged around the edges, grey, 2–2.5 mm wide 

and lens shaped. Flowers and leaves are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr
38 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Malvaceae

Sidalcea oregana 

(Torr. A. Gray) A. Gray

Oregon checkermallow is a perennial with 

woody stem bases that are 50–100 cm tall. Stems 

and leaves are covered with either star-shaped, 

appressed hairs or are nearly hairless. Some 

plants may be covered with a waxy-bloom. 

Leaves are 4–10 cm wide and deeply palmately 

lobed into 5–9 narrow, sparsely toothed lobes. 

e inorescence is a terminal raceme bearing 

numerous owers. Flowers are dimorphic; the 

pistillate owers with non-functional stamens 

are smaller than the perfect owers. ere are 

5 rose to deep pink petals that are 1–2 cm long, 

surrounding groups of 2–6 fused stamens. e 

calyx is 3.5–9 mm long with lance-shaped lobes 

that are smooth, hairy, or bristly. e dry, hairy 

or sticky capsule consists of 5–10 segments. Each 

segment contains one seed. Brown seeds are 

smooth or nely net-veined, kidney-shaped and 

2–3 mm long. Flowers and leaves are eaten. Robert L. Carr

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia 

(Hook. & Arn.) Rydb.

Gooseberryleaf globemallow has numerous erect 

stems that are somewhat woody at the base. 

Stems are 60–100 cm tall. Stems and leaves are 

covered with white, star-shaped hairs. Leaves are 

palmately lobed, up to 5 cm long, with each lobe 

having smaller lobes or divisions. e inorescence is a raceme of clustered red-orange owers. 

Each ower consists of 5 red-orange petals and 

5 fused sepals. Stamens join into one lament at 

their base and are hairy. Each dry fruit can have 

up to 12 segments per dry fruit, each containing 

a hairy or hairless grey seed. Flowers, as well as 

the young, less hairy leaves are eaten. Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 39

Malvaceae

Sphaeralacea munroana 

(Douglas ex Lindl.) Spach ex A. Gray

Munro’s globemallow is an erect perennial that 

grows 60–100 cm tall. e foliage is covered 

in white star-shaped hairs and the leaves are 

palmately veined. Leaves are 5 cm long and have 

3–5 shallow-toothed lobes. e inorescence is a 

raceme of clustered owers. Each ower consists 

of orange to red-orange petals subtended by 5 

fused sepals forming a bowl. Stamens join into 

one lament at their base and are hairy. Each dry 

fruit can have up to 12 segments, each segment 

containing a hairy seed. Found in shrub-steppe 

with sandy or rocky soil. Flowers, as well as the 

young, less hairy leaves are eaten.

Montiaceae

Claytonia parviora 

Hook.

Streambank springbeauty is a taprooted annual 

found in springs or vernally moist sites. Ascending stems are 5–10 cm long. Basal leaf blades are 

linear to narrowly oblong, 1–10 cm long, with 

rounded or slightly pointed tips. Stem leaves are 

fused into a broadly oval to rounded disc that 

is 1–3 cm wide. e inorescence bears one to 

many owers on spreading pedicels that are up to 

7 mm long. e 2 green sepals are 1–2 mm long. 

Petals are white to pink and 2–4 mm long. Small, 

rounded, dry capsules are 2–4 mm long and 

contain 3 seeds. e tender leaves of this species 

are eaten in early spring. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
40 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Montiaceae

Claytonia perfoliata 

Willd.

Miner’s lettuce is a taprooted annual with 

ascending stems that are 3–10 cm long. Basal leaf 

blades are oval and 1–7 cm long, with rounded or 

slightly pointed tips and distinctly linear petioles. 

Stem leaves are fused into a broadly oval to 

rounded disc that is 1–3 cm wide. e inorescence is open or dense, bearing 5 to numerous 

owers on short or spreading pedicels that are up 

to 5 mm long. e 2 green sepals are 1.5–5 mm 

long. Petals are white to pink and 2–6 mm long. 

Small, rounded dry capsules are 1.5–4 mm long 

and contain 3 seeds. e tender leaves are eaten 

in early spring.

Claytonia rubra 

(Howell) Tiedestr.

Red miner’s lettuce is a taprooted annual or 

occasionally perennial, with ascending stems that 

are 2–20 cm long. Basal leaf blades are reddish, 

oval to roundly triangular, 5–20 mm long, with 

rounded tips and wedge-shaped bases on linear 

petioles. Stem leaves are somewhat fused or free 

on one side, into a broadly oval to rounded disc 

that is less than 4 cm wide. e dense inorescence bears 3–30 owers on short or spreading 

pedicels that are up to 5 mm long. e 2 green 

sepals are 1–2 mm long. Petals are white to pink 

and 2–3 mm long. Small, rounded dry capsules 

are 2–3 mm long and contain 3 seeds. e tender 

leaves of this species are eaten in the early spring.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 41

Montiaceae

Lewisia rediviva 

Pursh

Bitterroot is a perennial with eshy roots from 

a simple or branched caudex. Stems are leaess, 

erect, or ascending and 1–5 cm long with a 

whorl of papery bracts below the ower. Basal 

leaf blades are tubular, 1–5 cm long and emerge 

in early spring but are absent during anthesis. 

Solitary, showy owers have 6–9 unequal, 

petal-like sepals, 8–25 mm long with entire 

margins. Flowers have 12–18 petals, deep rose to 

pink or occasionally white, that are 15–35 mm 

long. Petal bases are oen paler to white. ere 

are 5 stamens and 4–8 branches on the style. e 

fruit is a small, dry capsule surrounded by dry, 

papery bracts. Seeds are shiny black and round. 

e leaves are eaten while the owers are eaten 

during early summer.

Mark Egger

Montia linearis 

(Dougl.) Greene

Narrowleaf miner’s lettuce is a taprooted 

annual with erect to ascending stems that are 

2–15 cm tall. Stem leaves are eshy, alternate, linear, and 1–4 cm long. Basal leaves 

are absent. e inorescence bears one or 

few owers in a terminal or axillary raceme 

with linear eshy bracts. ere are 2 sepals, 

3–4 mm long and 5 white petals, 4–6 mm 

long surrounding 5 stamens. e style has 3 

distinct lobes. Dry capsules are 3-chambered 

containing shiny black seeds. Tender leaves are 

eaten in early spring.

Gerald D. Carr
42 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Phrymaceae

Diplacus nanus 

(Hook. & Arn.) G.L. Nesom

Dwarf monkeyower is a taprooted annual with 

erect to ascending stems, 2–10 cm tall. Stems 

and leaves are covered with short, gland-tipped 

hairs. Basal and stem leaves are 5–17 mm long, 

lance-shaped with broader rounded tips. Basal 

leaves have petioles and stem leaves clasp directly 

to the stem. One to a few owers are clustered at 

stem tips on pedicels that are 1–3 mm long. e 

calyx is 5–8 mm long with teeth of equal length. 

e corolla is magenta to rose-purple, distinctly 

2-lipped with unequal length lobes. e raised 

palate ridges are yellow and covered with hairs. 

Lines of darker petal color oen occur at the 

base of the palate and petals. Dry, oval, papery 

capsules are 7–11 mm long, containing tiny dustlike, brownish seeds. Two similar species grow in 

eastern Oregon, D. cusickioides and the narrow 

endemic D. cusickii. e tender leaves are eaten 

in spring. 

Matt Lavin

Orobanchaceae

Castilleja chromosa 

A. Nelson

Desert paintbrush is a common perennial with 

erect, brittle stems that are 30–75 cm tall. Stems 

and leaves have short, bristly hairs. Stems are 

usually branched. Basal leaves are entire and narrow, while upper leaves have deep divisions with 

3–7 thin lobes. e calyx is more deeply incised 

on the back than the front and is hairy. Calyx 

lobes and the showy bracts are bright orange or 

red or yellow-orange on the outer half, hairy, and 

typically have 3–5 lobes that are rounded at the 

tips. Upper corolla lobes have thin pointed tips 

and are 2 times the length of the calyx. e lower 

corolla lip is 2–3 mm long and dark green. Dry 

capsules are 10–15 mm long containing numerous, tiny seeds. is species is good substrate for 

invertebrates and oral parts are likely eaten, 

whereas the somewhat hairy leaves are not likely 

consumed.

Mark Egger
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 43

Phrymaceae

Erythranthe suksdor

(A. Gray) N.S. Fraga

Suksdorf ’s monkeyower is a taprooted annual 

with branched and erect stems that are 2–10 

cm tall. Stems and leaves are smooth or covered 

with short, appressed hairs and glands. Leaves 

are stalkless, linear to lance-shaped, 5–15 mm 

long, with 1–3 nerves and sharply toothed 

margins. Lower stem leaves have short petioles. 

Flowers are borne on pedicels that are less 

than 1 cm long. e calyx is purplish, glandular-hairy, 3–5 mm long with teeth of equal 

length and sharply pointed tips. e corolla is 

yellow, faintly yellow-spotted, 4–6 mm long, 

and somewhat 2-lipped with unequal lobes. 

Each corolla lobe is slightly notched. e corolla 

throat is hairy within. Dry capsules are 4–5 mm 

long and borne on widely spreading pedicels. 

Each capsule contains numerous dust-like 

seeds. Tender leaves are eaten in spring.

Gerald D. Carr

Plantaginaceae

Penstemon speciosus 

Lindl.

Royal penstemon is a perennial with several 

stems that are 5–60 cm tall. Stems are shorthairy. Uppermost stem leaves are smooth, 

lance-shaped with smooth margins, oen 

folded length-wise and clasp directly to the 

stem. Lower stem leaves oen have short 

petioles and rounded tips. e inorescence is 

hairless or short hairy but is without glands. 

e calyx is 6–13 mm long with lance to ovalshaped lobes. e corolla 25–37 mm long and 

is abruptly expanded into a throat. e outer 

corolla tube is blue while the throat is white 

and hairless. Anther sacs are S-shaped, hairy 

on the sides, and split open along the upper 

two-thirds of the anther. e staminode is 

hairless or with a hairy tip. Dry capsules contain angular, brown seeds. e tender leaves 

are eaten in late winter and early spring. Gerald D. Carr
44 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Collinsia parviora 

Lindl.

Blue-eyed Mary is a delicate annual with 

erect or prostrate stems that are 5–13 cm tall. 

Leaves are opposite, linear, with rounded tips 

and slightly enrolled margins. Flowers are 

borne on hairy stalks arising from the leaf axils. e inorescence is leafy, nely glandular 

and hairy. Flowers are 2-lipped with a broad 

spur at the base. Upper ower petals are erect 

and white with bluish tips, while the lower lip 

is 3-lobed and blue-violet. e calyx has sharp 

tipped lobes. Dry capsules are oval, 2–4 mm 

long with 2–4 seeds. e tender owers and 

leaves are eaten during the spring.

Gerald D. Carr

Plantaginaceae

Collinsia grandiora 

Lindl.

Giant blue-eyed Mary is an annual that 

is 10–40 cm tall. Leaves are opposite and 

rounded in shape on the lower stem and 

become longer and narrowly elliptic on the 

upper stem. Upper stem leaves are often 

whorled. Flowers are borne on short stalks 

arising from the leaf axils. The corolla tube 

is bent at an angle down from the calyx. The 

corolla throat is blue, strongly angled to 

the tube with a prominent pouch. Upper lip 

petals are notched and pale or white at the 

center. Lower lip petals are violet-blue. Calyx 

lobes have sharp points. Each dry capsule 

has 4 plump, roundish seeds per dry capsule. 

Leaves and flowers are eaten in spring.

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 45

Polemoniaceae

Aliciella leptomeria 

(A. Gray) J.M. Porter

Great Basin gilia is a taprooted annual with 

ascending to erect branched stems that are 

5–20 cm tall. Leaves and stems are covered 

with stalked yellow glands. Basal leaves are 

narrowly spoon-shaped, 1–5 cm long and 

coarsely lobed with spine-tipped teeth along 

the margins. There are fewer and smaller 

stem leaves. The inflorescence is an open 

branched cyme bearing solitary flowers on 

erect or ascending petioles. The calyx is 2 

mm long, purplish, and covered with glands. 

The corolla is widely bell-shaped, 4–7 mm 

long, and pink with a yellow throat. Lower 

petal surfaces are white. Petal lobes are broad 

with long, pointed tips and a few jagged 

teeth. Stamens and styles are exerted. Dry 

capsules are 3-chambered, roundish, 3 mm 

long containing 3 to several seeds. The flowers and tender parts of the leaves are eaten 

in spring. Endangered in Columbia Basin in 

Washington. Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Collomia linearis 

Nutt.

Tiny trumpet is an annual with simple and 

erect stems that are 7–50 cm tall. Stems 

and leaves are covered with glandular hairs. 

Leaves are stalkless, linear to narrowly lanceshaped, alternate, 1–10 cm long, and with 

smooth margins. The inflorescence is a dense 

terminal cluster of stalkless flowers. The calyx 

is 3–5 mm long with sharply pointed lobes. 

The pink corolla is fused into a tube that is 

6–9 mm long with 5 free corolla lobes that are 

1–3 mm long. Stamens are unequally attached 

to the corolla lobes and are shorter than the 

corolla lobes. Dry capsules are 3–4 mm long 

and contain one seed per chamber. The tender 

leaves and flowers are eaten in spring.

Gerald D. Carr
46 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Gilia inconspicua 

(Smith) Sweet

Shy gilia is an annual with ascending or 

spreading, branched stems that are 8–32 cm 

long. Stems are tued, woolly-hairy below the 

inorescence and covered with black glands 

above. Basal leaves are borne in a rosette and 

are pinnately lobed, densely woolly-hairy with 

smooth or toothed margins. Leaf lobes are 

2–10 mm long with rounded or pointed tips. 

e inorescence is an open cyme bearing 

2–4 owers on pedicels of unequal lengths. 

e calyx is 2.6–4.6 mm long, smooth or 

gland-dotted. Early owers oen have woolly 

calyx lobes. e corolla is 6–11 mm long with 

lavender corolla lobes with a purple spot at the 

petal base. e corolla throat is white to yellowish. Stamens and style are exerted beyond 

the corolla lobes. Oval-shaped capsules are 5–8 

mm long and contain 12–18 seeds. e tender 

leaves and owers are eaten in spring. Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Polemoniaceae

Collomia tinctoria 

Kell.

Yellow-staining collomia is an annual with 

erect, spreading to ascending, branched 

stems that are 2–8 cm tall. Internodes along 

the stems are long-hairy and have clear 

glands. Stem leaves are long-linear to narrowly lance-shaped, covered with glands and 

have smooth margins. The inflorescence is 

a terminal or axillary cluster of 2–5 flowers. 

The calyx is glandular, 5–7 mm long with 

long-tapered tips and awns at the tips. The 

tubular corolla is 8–14 mm long. The corolla 

tube is maroon to violet and the 5 corolla 

lobes are pink. Stamens are equally attached 

at one length within the corolla. The style 

is exerted beyond the corolla lobes. Dry 

capsules are 3–4 mm long with one seed per 

chamber. Tender leaves and flowers are eaten 

in spring.

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 47

Polemoniaceae

Gilia sinuata 

Benth.

Rosy gilia is an annual with one to several 

spreading stems that are 13–34 cm long. 

Stems are hairless but are covered with a waxy 

bloom towards the middle. Lower stems are 

covered with loose, cottony hairs that are deciduous during later growth. Basal leaves are 

borne in a prostrate rosette and are pinnately 

lobed, densely woolly-hairy with toothed 

margins. Stem leaves are fewer, smaller, and 

clasp directly to the stem with free leaf bases 

and long tapering tips. Stem leaf margins are 

smooth or shallowly toothed. e inorescence is an open, glandular cyme bearing 2–4 

owers on pedicels of unequal lengths. e 

calyx is 3–5 mm long. e corolla is 7–12 mm 

long with lavender, pink or white petals with 

white veins and a white to yellowish tubular 

throat. Stamens and style are just longer than 

the oral tube, but do not exceed the length of 

the corolla lobes. Capsules are 4–7 mm long 

with numerous yellow to brown seeds. e 

birds eat the owers.

Gilia tweedyi 

Rydb.

Tweedy’s gilia is an annual with one to several spreading stems that are 5–25 cm long. 

Stems are slender and loosely hairy. Lower 

part of the stem is covered with loose, cottony 

hairs that are deciduous during later growth. 

Basal leaves are borne in a prostrate rosette 

and are pinnately lobed, densely woolly-hairy 

with toothed margins. The few stem leaves 

are usually covered with stalked glands. The 

inflorescence is an open, glandular cyme 

bearing 2–4 flowers on pedicels of unequal 

lengths. The calyx is 3–5 mm long and purple 

spotted. The corolla is 4–6 mm long, bluish 

with a yellow throat. The tube is 4–5 mm 

long and corolla lobes are only 1 mm long. 

Stamens and style are just longer than the 

floral tube but do not exceed the length of the 

corolla lobes. Capsules are 4–5 mm long with 

several seeds per chamber. The flowers are 

eaten in spring.

Gerald D. Carr

Matt Lavin
48 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Polemoniaceae

Gymnosteris nudicaulis 

(Hook. & Arn.) Greene

Nakedstem gymnosteris is an annual with 

erect stems and linear leaf-like bracts. e 

showy owers are stalkless and borne in a terminal compact head. e inorescence head 

is subtended by numerous, leaf-like bracts. 

e calyx is urn-shaped, thin, membranous 

with pointed awns at the tips. e slender 

corolla tube is 6–10 mm long and conspicuously exerted beyond the calyx lobes. Corolla 

lobes are up to 6 mm long, white with a bright 

yellow base at the corolla throat. Some plants 

have pure yellow owers. Filaments are very 

short and inserted at the corolla throat. 

Slender capsules contain several angled seeds 

per chamber. In spring, owers and leaves are 

eaten.

Ipomopsis aggregata 

(Pursh) V.E. Grant

Scarlet gilia is a short-lived perennial or biennial with erect, hairy, and sometimes glandular stems that are 20–80 cm tall. Foliage 

is oen malodorous and covered with long, 

so hairs. Upper stems are oen covered with 

glands. Basal leaves are oval, 2–10 cm long, 

and pinnately lobed into 9–11 linear lobes. 

Basal leaves are oen withered at owering. 

Stem leaves are simple or 5–7 lobed on the 

upper stems. e inorescence is a terminal 

or axillary cyme that is densely branched with 

numerous simple, leafy bracts. e calyx is 

4–8 mm long. e showy, tubular corolla is 

bright scarlet, with 5 spreading lobes that are 

6–20 mm long. e corolla can be solid red or 

spotted with white or yellow in the throat and 

2–3 cm long. Stamens are barely exerted beyond the corolla lobes. Dry capsules are 5–10 

mm long containing sickle-shaped seeds. e 

owers support invertebrates and are eaten. 

James Moreeld

Mark Egger

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 49

Polemoniaceae

Ipomposis congesta

(Hook.) V.E. Grant

White pollen skyrocket is a perennial from 

a branched woody caudex with prostrate to 

ascending stems that are 4–20 cm tall. Leaves 

and stems are densely hairy to glabrous. 

Leaves are simple or pinnately lobed into 

linear segments and are 5–60 mm long. e 

inorescence is a terminal or axillary head 

like cyme with numerous, tiny, leaf-like bracts 

that are sti-hairy. e calyx is 3–5 mm long 

and hairy. e corolla lobes are white with a 

yellow tube that is 3–5 mm long that is barely 

longer than the calyx. Corolla lobes are 2–5 

mm long. Stamens are exerted beyond the corolla lobes. Filaments are 2–4 times the length 

of the anthers. e style is included within 

the corolla. Dry capsules are 2–4 mm long 

with1–2 seeds per chamber. e owers are 

eaten and the plant provides good substrate 

for invertebrates.

Leptosiphon harknessii 

J.M Porter & L.A. Johnson

Harkness gilia is an erect annual with a slender, thread-like 

appearance. Branched stems 

are 10–45 cm tall. Leaves are 

opposite, narrow, and divided 

into thin sections. e corolla 

lobes are white to blue, 1–2 mm 

long, and broadly bell-shaped. 

Stamens extend beyond the oral 

tube and are hairless. e corolla 

is usually included in the calyx, 

having 5 lobes that are longer 

than the calyx tube. e fruit is 

a tiny capsule bearing 2–6 

seeds. Birds eat the leaves 

and owers. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
50 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Polemoniaceae

Leptosiphon septentrionalis 

(H. Mason) J.M. Porter & L.A. Johnson

Northern linanthus is a slender taprooted 

annual with thread-like, smooth or hairy 

stems that are 5–30 tall. Stems are occasionally 

branched above. Leaves are stalkless, palmately divided to the base into 3–7 linear lobes. 

Flowers are paired in the upper leaf axils and 

are borne on pedicels that are 4–20 mm long. 

e 5-lobed calyx is 2–3 mm long, with thin 

membrane-like edges in between the green 

raised ridges. e corolla lobes are white, 1–2 

mm long, and broadly bell-shaped. e tube 

is 1.5–2 times the length of the calyx and the 

inner throat is usually yellow. Stamens are 

inserted at equal length at the top of the tube 

among lines or a ring of short hairs and are 

well exerted beyond the edge of the corolla 

lobes. Capsules are 2–3 mm long with 2–8 

seeds per chamber. e leaves and owers are 

eaten.

Linanthus pungens 

(Torr.) J.M. Porter & L.A. Johnson

Granite prickly phlox is a sweetly aromatic 

and openly branched, perennial sub-shrub 

with numerous stems that are 10–60 cm. 

Leaves are numerous alternate on the upper 

stem and usually opposite on the lower stem. 

Leaves are rigid and prickly, palmately divided into 3–7 linear segments with spine-like 

tips and axillary fasicled leaves at the nodes. 

Flowers are stalkless and are borne in leaf axils or at the tips of short, leafy branches. Calyx 

lobes have spine-like tips and are joined into 

a membrane-like tube with raised ridges. e 

nocturnal, white to creamy white corolla is 

15–25 mm long and oen tinged with lavender on the outside. Corolla lobes are 6–10 mm 

long and remained contorted and closed during 

the day. Stamens are attached at the throat. Dry 

capsules are shorter than the calyx. Seeds are 

tan, elliptical, and 2–4 mm long. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 51

Polemoniaceae

Microsteris gracilis 

(Hook.) Greene

Annual phlox can have single upright or 

branched spreading stems that are 5–20 cm 

tall. Stems are covered with hairy glands 

especially on the uppermost stems. Leaves 

are lance-shaped and opposite on lower stems 

and alternate on the upper stems. Flowers are 

often clustered or paired, each with its own 

stem. The tubular portion is yellowish and 

there are 5 pink to purple corolla lobes, each 

with a deep cleft in the tip. The stamens and 

style do not extend beyond the floral tube. 

The fruit is a slender, dry capsule containing 

tiny oval seeds. In addition to be a good sub- Gerald D. Carr strate for invertebrates, the flowers are eaten.

Phlox aculeata 

A. Nelson

Sagebrush phlox is a perennial forming compact 

to loose mats from a short, woody, root crown. 

Leaves are needle-like and linear, 1.5–3 cm long 

and 1–2 mm wide, crowded and hairless below 

and glandular-hairy above. Flowering pedicels 

are glandular-hairy and 5 mm long. e calyx is 

10 mm long, glandular-hairy, with long, pointed 

lobe tips that are 4–5 mm long. e calyx is fused 

into a membrane-like tube with raised ridges. 

e membrane-like tissue between the raised 

ridges is keeled. e corolla is lilac to bluish, 12 

mm long and 12–15 mm wide across the lobes. 

Corolla lobes are blunt or slightly notched at 

the tips. Stamens and style are shorter than the 

corolla lobes. Dry capsules are elliptical, shorter 

than calyx lobes, and contain only 1–2 seeds per 

chamber. is species provides good substrate 

for invertebrates and the owers are eaten. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
52 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Polemoniaceae

Phlox hoodii 

Richardson

Hood’s phlox is a taprooted perennial forming 

dense to loose mats. Stems are prostrate to 

slightly ascending and 1–6 mm long. Leaves 

are sti, needle-like, thinly-white margined, 

and 4–12 mm long. Leaves are smooth or 

glandular with long tangled hairs at the leaf 

base and along the leaf margins. Solitary 

owers are borne just above the dense leaves. 

e calyx is covered with long, tangled hairs 

and is sometimes glandular and 4–8 mm 

long. e calyx tube is fused into a ridged, 

membrane-like tube. Membranes are at 

between the raised ridges. e corolla is white 

to bluish, with tubes that are 6–11 mm long 

and broadly, egg-shaped corolla lobes that 

are 3–7 mm long. e style is 2–5 mm long. 

Dry capsules are shorter than calyx lobes and 

oen contain1–2 seeds. Birds eat the owers.

Phlox longifolia 

Nutt.

Longleaf phlox is a taprooted perennial with 

creeping subterranean branches. Stems are 

erect, simple, with well-developed internodes, 

loosely tued and 8–35 cm tall. Stems are 

smooth below and glandular hairy above. 

Linear leaves are 2–10 cm long and hairless. 

Flowers are borne in clusters of 3 to several in 

a leafy-bracted cyme and are borne on pedicels 

that are 7–30 cm long. e calyx is 8–12 mm 

long. e calyx tube has keeled membranes in 

between the raised ridges. e corolla is white 

to pink, with dark pink markings at the base 

of each corolla lobe. e broad, egg-shaped 

corolla lobes are 6–12 mm long and notched or 

with jagged edges at the tips. e corolla tube 

is 12–15 mm long. e style is 6–15 mm long. 

Dry capsules are borne within the calyx lobes, 

thinly elliptical and bear 2 or more seeds per 

chamber. e owers are eaten. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 53

Polemoniaceae

Polemonium micranthum 

Benth.

Annual polemonium is a taprooted annual with 

simple and erect stems that are 5–25 cm tall. 

Leaves and stems are covered with glandular hairs. Leaves are 1–5 cm long, pinnately 

compound, with 7–15 lance-shaped leaets with 

smooth margins. e terminal leaet is fused 

with the adjacent lateral pair. e 1–2 axillary 

owers are borne on glandular-hairy pedicels 

that are 5–13 mm long. e calyx is 3–9 mm 

long with 5 lobes longer than the calyx tube. 

e corolla is no longer than the calyx, white to 

bluish, bell-shaped and with 5 corolla lobes that 

are 1–2 mm long. Stamens and style are included 

in the oral tube. Dry capsules are 4–5 mm long. 

Seeds are oval to elliptical, 1–3 mm long, and 

dark brown. Birds eat the owers.

Polygonaceae

Eriogonum heracleoides 

Nutt.

Creamy buckwheat is a perennial forming loose 

mats and is somewhat shrubby at the stem base. 

Most leaves occur on the lower stems. Leaves 

are narrow and nely hairy underneath. Flowers 

are borne in clusters and are cream colored but 

age to red. e 6 hairy tepals have a long tubular 

base. Stamens are exerted beyond the corolla 

lobes. Achenes are 2–3 mm long, 3-sided and 

enclosed in the dried, papery tepals. e species 

provides good substrate for invertebrates and the 

owers are eaten if in reach. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
54 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Polygonaceae

Eriogonum ovalifolium 

Nutt.

Cushion buckwheat is a cushion-like perennial 

that forms mounds from a branched caudex. 

Foliage is densely covered with ne white hairs, 

giving the plant a white to greyish appearance. 

Stems are densely hairy, 2–35 cm tall and 

clothed in old leaves at the base. Oblong to 

roundish leaves have long petioles. Flowers 

are tightly packed in a roundish cyme. Each 

cluster has one to several hairy involucres. 

Flowers are 2–5 mm long, white, creamy yellow 

or rose colored and cup-shaped. Dry achenes 

are 2–3 cm long, 3-sided and enclosed in the 

dry, papery tepals. is species provides good 

substrate for invertebrates and the owers are 

eaten if in reach.

Eriogonum sphaerocephalum 

Nutt.

Round-headed desert buckwheat is shrub-like 

forming rounded clumps. Leaves are covered in 

matted hairs especially underneath, spoonshaped with at or enrolled leaf margins. 

Flowering stems are 2.5–10 cm tall, smooth or 

hairy, with a whorl of 4–8 leaf-like bracts near 

the middle. Flowers are clustered into tight 

ball-shaped cymes. e 6 tepals that are united 

below are bright yellow to creamy yellow. 

Dry achenes are 3-sided and enclosed in the 

dry, papery tepals. e species provides good 

substrate for invertebrates and the owers are 

eaten if in reach.

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 55

Rosaceae

Geum macrophyllum 

Willd.

Largeleaf avens is a perennial with erect, 

leafy stems that are 20–100 cm tall. Stems are 

covered with long, so hairs and are glandular 

on the upper surface. Leaves are oblong, 

sparsely long-hairy, 8–25 cm long, and divided into 4–8 oval-shaped leaets with toothed 

margins. e terminal leaet is broadly 

rounded, 3–5 lobed and larger than the lateral 

leaets. e inorescence is a glandular, leafy 

cyme, bearing erect, saucer-shaped owers. 

Sepals are green, reexed, 2–5 mm long, and 

hairy on the margins; 5 subtending small, 

leafy bracts occur beneath the calyx. e 5 

yellow petals are 4–7 mm long. e numerous 

stamens are borne along the perimeter of 

densely packed pistils, forming a hemispheric, 

dome-like receptacle. Dry achenes are long, 

so-hairy and glandular with a persistent 

style and are borne in dense clusters.

Geum triorum 

Pursh

Prairie smoke is a perennial forming loose 

mats from branched, spreading root stocks. 

Erect stems are covered with dense, short, and 

so hairs, 10–50 cm tall and have one pair of 

small, oppositely arranged leaves. Leaves are 

broadly spoon-shaped or oblong, 4–15 cm 

long, long-hairy and pinnately divided into numerous lobed divisions with toothed margins. 

e inorescence is a glandular, leafy, 3-owered cyme, bearing nodding, cup-shaped owers on glandular and hairy pedicels. Sepals are 

erect, deep pink, 7–11 mm long, with slightly 

longer bracts that are simple or 2–3 cle into 

narrow segments. Five erect petals are cream 

colored and as long as the sepals. Achenes are 

2 mm long, short-hairy with a long, persistent, 

feathery style, and borne in clusters in the 

cup-shaped receptacle. is species provides 

good substrate for invertebrates and the owers 

are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Robert L. Carr
56 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Rosaceae

Horkelia fusca 

Lindl.

Tawny horkelia is a leafy, tued perennial with 

stems that are 10–60 cm tall. Leaves are green 

to greyish-green, densely glandular-hairy and 

pinnately divided into 5–7 pairs of oval to 

roundish, deeply lobed and coarsely toothed 

leaets. e terminal leaet is broadly oval 

and larger than the lateral leaets. Basal 

leaves have stipules with smooth margins that 

closely clasp the stem. e inorescence is a 

head-like cyme bearing one to several owers 

on short pedicels. e calyx is 2–3 mm long, 

purplish with numerous linear bracts. Five 

white or pink petals are wedge-shaped and 

widely spreading. ere are 10 stamens borne 

on the outer edge of the cup-shaped receptacle 

and 10–25 pistils. Dry achenes are oval and 

smooth. Highly variable with several varieties. 

Provides good substrate for invertebrates and 

the owers are eaten.

Potentilla gracilis 

Douglas ex Hook.

Five-nger cinquefoil is a leafy, tued perennial arising from a branched caudex. Stems 

are erect to ascending and 10–60 cm tall. 

Leaves are green to greyish-green, hairless or 

hairy, palmately divided into 5–9 narrowly, 

spoon-shaped leaets that are densely toothed 

or lobed. Leaets are hairless or densely covered with felt-like hairs on the lower leaf surface and 2–8 cm long. e inorescence bears 

numerous owers on ascending branches in 

an open cyme that is silky, hairy, or sometimes glandular. e calyx is 3–8 mm long, 

lance-shaped with linear and shorter bracts. 

Flowers have 5 widely spreading, satiny yellow 

petals that are 5–10 mm long. ere are 20 

stamens on the outer edge of the disc-shaped 

receptacle and numerous pistils. Dry achenes 

are 1–1.5 mm long, tan, and smooth. Highly 

variable with numerous recognized varieties. 

Leaves and owers of this tender species are 

eaten in spring. 

Robert L. Carr

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 57

Saxifragaceae

Lithophragma glabrum 

Nutt.

Rocket star is a short-lived perennial with 

erect stems that are 5–30 cm tall. Purplish 

bulbils are borne in the upper leaves of the 

inorescence. Leaf blades are sparsely hairy 

above and smooth below, 5–20 mm wide, 

roundish in outline and divided into 3 lobes 

that are further divided into smaller lobes. 

Each inorescence has 1–6 owers that are 

oen replaced partly or entirely by vegetative 

bulbils. e calyx is cup-shaped, 2–4 mm 

long, with triangular lobes. e corolla is 

white to pink, 5–8 mm long, with each clawed 

petal deeply divided into 5 lobes. ere are 10 

stamens and 3 styles. Small, dry capsules are 

half-exposed above the receptacle and bear 

tiny, spiny seeds. Leaves and owers of this 

tender species are eaten in spring. 

Gerald D. Carr

Gerald D. Carr

Lithophragma parviorum 

(Hook.) Nutt.

Prairie star is a short-lived perennial with 

erect stems that are 10–50 cm tall. Leaf blades 

are white-hairy and glandular, 1–3 cm wide, 

roundish in outline and twice deeply 3-lobed 

or palmately lobed. Each leaf lobe has a sharp 

pointed tip. Each inorescence has 4–12 owers. e calyx is broadly cone-shaped and 4–6 

mm long. Clawed petals are white to pink, 6–9 

mm long, broadly spoon-shaped and 3-lobed. 

ere are 10 stamens and 3 styles. Capsules 

are 5–7 mm long and completely enclosed in 

the receptacle and bear tiny, smooth seeds. An 

important species, the leaves and owers of 

this tender forb are eaten in spring. 
58 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Saxifragaceae

Lithophragma tenellum 

Nutt.

Slender woodland star is a short-lived perennial with erect stems that are 5–20 cm tall. 

Leaf blades are glandular-hairy, 1–2 cm wide, 

oval to roundish in outline and twice deeply 

3-lobed. Each leaf lobe has rounded teeth. 

Each inorescence has 3–9 owers. e calyx 

is cup-shaped and 2–4 mm long. Petals are 

white to pink, clawed, oval-shaped, 3–7 mm 

long and 5–7 lobed. ere are 10 stamens and 

3 styles. Capsules are 5–7 mm long and half 

exposed above the receptacle and bears tiny, 

smooth seeds. e glabrous leaves and owers 

of this tender forb are eaten in spring.

Robert L. Carr

Valerianaceae

Plectritis macrocera 

Torr. & A. Gray

Longspur white plectritis is a brous rooted 

annual with erect stems that are 6–30 cm tall. 

Stems are simple or branched in the upper 

axils. Leaves and stems are hairless. Basal 

leaves are oblong with smooth margins on long 

petioles but are usually withered during owering. Stem leaves are stalkless and clasp directly 

to the stem, oblong and 7–40 mm long. e 

inorescence is a dense, glandular interrupted 

spike bearing numerous owers that becomes 

expanded during fruit development. e calyx 

is absent. e corolla is white, slightly 2-lipped 

with a short, thick and blunt spur that is 2–4 

mm long. e corolla is glandular with 5 lobes 

that are shorter than the tube. e stigma is 

2-lobed and there are 3 exerted stamens. e 

fruit is a dry compressed, rounded achene with 

a beak and short, glandular-hairy wing. e 

tender leaves and owers are eaten. 

Gerald D. Carr
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 59

Valerianaceae

Valeriana occidentalis 

A. Heller

Western valerian is a short-rhizomatous 

perennial with erect stems that are 30–70 cm 

tall. Basal leaves have long petioles. Leaf blades 

are 2–6 cm long, ovate to elliptical with smooth 

margins or with a pair of basal lobes. Stem leaves 

have short petioles and leaf blades that are 6–15 

cm long, with 1–4 pairs of lance- to oval-shaped 

lateral lobes with bluntly toothed margins. e 

terminal lobe is usually larger than the lateral 

lobes and has a blunt or pointed tip. e in-

orescence is hemispheric, 2–6 cm wide, and 

covered with short, dense hairs and is sparsely 

glandular. e corolla is white to pink, 5–8 

mm long with 5 spreading lobes and is sparsely 

hairy. Corolla lobes are half the length of the 

tube. Flowers can be perfect and bisexual or 

pistillate. e stigma is 3-lobed and there are 

3 exerted stamens in perfect owers. e fruit 

is a beaked, compressed, rounded achene with 

6 longitudal veins and a feathery persistent 

calyx. Leaves and owers are eaten.

Tara Luna

Violaceae

Viola beckwithii 

Torrey. & A. Gray

Beckwith’s violet is a perennial, 2–22 cm tall, 

with hairless or short, appressed hairy stems 

and leaves. Aerial stems are erect to somewhat 

ascending. Up to half the stem length is below 

ground and attached to a deep-seated caudex. 

Leaves are divided into deeply dissected, linear 

segments borne on petioles that are 2–10.5 

cm long. Leaf blades are oval to triangular in 

outline, eshy, with numerous oblong to linear 

segments with rounded or pointed tips. Stem 

leaves are similar but are smaller. Flowers are 

borne on peduncles that are 2.5–15 cm long. 

Sepals are lance-shaped. e upper 2 petals are 

dark red-violet and oen overlap. e lower 

3 petals are lilac, violet, or white, with darker 

violet veins and a yellow to orange base. Lateral 

petals are bearded with cylinder-like hairs. Dry 

capsules are oval with 3 valves and 7–13 mm 

long. Seeds are 3–4 mm long and brown. Birds 

eat the owers and leaves. 

Gerald D. Carr
60 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Violaceae

Viola praemorsa 

Lindl.

Upland yellow violet is a perennial 7–30 cm tall, 

hairless or short, appressed hairy stems and 

leaves. Stems are erect or prostrate, arising from 

a subterranean caudex on a woody rhizome. 

Leaf petioles are 4–19 cm long. Leaf blades are 

simple, 2–8.5 cm long, oval to elliptical, with 

smooth, wavy, or irregularly toothed margins. 

Leaf margin teeth can be blunt or pointed. e 

leaf blade base is oblique or blunt and leaf tips 

are rounded or pointed. Stem leaves are smaller. 

Flowers are borne on peduncles that are 2.7–26 

cm long. Sepals are lance-shaped, hairless or 

with short hairs along the margins. Petals are a 

deep lemon-yellow. e upper 2 petals are oen 

marked with brown to maroon lines. e lower 3 

petals have dark brown to maroon veins. Lateral 

petals are bearded with cylinder-like hairs and 

are sometimes darkly veined. e fruit is an 

oval-shaped, 3-valved capsule that is 6–12 mm 

long. Seeds are 2–3 mm long, brown, and oen 

covered with a white, spongy material. e leaves 

and owers of this tender species are eaten.

Gerald D. Carr

Mark Egger

Viola purpurea 

Kellogg

Goosefoot violet is a perennial with short, appressed hairy stems and leaves. e plant usually 

has several stems that are erect or prostrate, 

arising from a subterranean caudex on a woody 

rhizome. Leaf petioles are 1–12 cm long. Stem leaf 

blades are simple, thick, 5–20 mm wide, lance- to 

oval-shaped, shallowly lobed, and purple-tinged. 

Leaf blade bases are tapered, blunt or heart-shaped 

and are oen oblique. Leaf margins are smooth 

or with a few teeth. Leaf tips are rounded with 

3–5 prominent rounded to pointed lobes per side 

with margins that are bluntly or sharply toothed. 

Flowers are borne on peduncles that are 1–17 

cm long. Sepals are lance-shaped and are hairless 

or with short hairs along the margins. Petals are 

a deep lemon-yellow. e upper 2 petals are oen marked with brown to maroon lines. e lower 3 

petals have dark brown veins. Lateral petals are bearded with club-shaped hairs and are sometimes 

have dark brown to purple veins. e fruit is an oval-shaped, short-hairy, 3-valved capsule that is 4–12 

mm long. Seeds are 2–3 mm long, brown, dark brown or mottled grey. e leaves and owers of this 

tender species are eaten.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 61

Violaceae

Viola vallicola 

A. Nelson

Valley yellow violet is a tued perennial with 

mostly subterranean stems. Stems are 2–8 cm 

tall. Leaves and stems are hairless or are sparsely 

hairy. Stipules are fused to the stems with free 

tips. Leaf blades are 1–10 cm long, narrowly to 

broadly lance-shaped on the upper stems. Basal 

and lower stem leaves are triangular to oval in 

outline with blunt leaf bases. Leaf margins are 

smooth or with widely spaced, blunt teeth. Yellow owers are 8–15 mm long. e upper petals 

are brownish on the back. e lower 3 petals are 

marked with purple lines and have a tiny spur. 

e style tip is hairy. Tan seeds are 2 mm long 

and covered with white, spongy material that 

extends to the fruit wall. Capsules are 3-valved 

and 6–9 mm long. Leaves and owers are eaten. Mark Egger
62 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Dumroese, R.K.; Luna, T.; Pinto, J.R.; Landis, T.D. 2016. Forbs: Foundation for monarch 

butteries, other pollinators, and greater sage-grouse in the western United States. 

Natural Areas Journal. 36: 499‒511.

Dumroese, R.K.; Luna, T.; Richardson, B.A.; Kilkenny, F.F.; Runyon, J.B. 2015. Conserving 

and restoring habitat for greater sage-grouse and other sagebrush-obligate wildlife: e 

crucial link of forbs and sagebrush diversity. Native Plants Journal. 16: 277–299.

Flora of North America Editorial Committee. 1993+. Flora of North America North of 

Mexico. 20+ vols. New York and Oxford.

Oregon Flora Project. Last updated 21 August 2018. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University 

Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. http://www.OregonFlora.org. [Accessed 2018 

Oct 30].

Pendergrass, K.; Vaughn, M.; Williams, J. 2008. Plants for pollinators in Oregon. Plant 

Materials Technical Note 13. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National 

Resources Conservation Service. 26 p.

PLANTS Database. Last updated 30 October 2018. Goldsboro, NC: U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service, National Plant Data Team. 

https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/. [Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

Rosentreter, R. 2016. Sage-grouse forb preference by 12 plant categories. Reno, NV: 

Great Basin Fire Science Exchange. Video, 44:46 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=ynAopZ26XAA&feature=youtu.be.

Stiver, S.J.; Rinkes, E.T.; Naugle, D.E.; Makela, P.D.; Nance, D.A.; Karl, J.W., eds. 2015. 

Sage-grouse habitat assessment framework: A multiscale assessment tool. Technical 

Reference 6710-1. Denver, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 

Management and Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 116 p.

U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management [DOI BLM]. 2015. Oregon 

greater sage-grouse resource management plan amendment, September 2015. Portland, 

OR: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon–Washington 

State Oce. 252 p.

References
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 63

Calora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation. 2017. 

Berkeley, CA: Calora. http://www.calora.org/. [Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

Cane, J.H.; Kervin, L. 2009. Gardening for native bees in Utah and beyond. ENT- 133-09. 

Logan, UT: Utah State University Extension and Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Laboratory 

and U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 9 p.

Consortium of Pacic Northwest Herbaria. 2018. Seattle, WA: University of Washington 

Herbarium, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. http://www.pnwherbaria.org. 

[Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

Eldredge, E.; Noak, P.; Heater, T.; Mulder, A.; Jasmine, J. 2013. Plants for pollinator habitat 

in Nevada. Technical Note NV-57. Reno, NV: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National 

Resources Conservation Service. 65 p.

Hitchcock, A.; Cronquist, C.L.; Ownbey, M.; ompson, J. 1973. Flora of the Pacic Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press. 750 p.

Hitchcock, A.; Holmgren, A.; Holmgren, N.; Reveal, J.; Holmgren, P. 2013. Intermountain 

ora. Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. New York, NY: New York Botanical 

Garden Press. 446 p.

Intermountain Region Herbarium Network. 2018. http://intermountainbiota.org. 

[Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

Jepson Herbarium. 2018. Jepson eFlora. Last update 21 May 2018. Berkeley, CA: 

University of California. http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eora/. [Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

Lesica, P. 2012. Vascular plants of Montana. Fort Worth, TX: Britt Press. 779 p.

Ogle, D.; Pavek, P.; Fleenor, R.; Stannard, M.; Dring, T.; Cane, J.; Fullen, K.; St. John, L.; 

Tilley, D. 2011. Plants for pollinators in the Inland Northwest. Plant Materials Technical 

Note 2B (revised). Boise, ID, and Spokane, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service. 65 p.

Ogle, D.; Tilley, D.; Cane, J.; St. John, L.; Fullen, K.; Stannard, M.; Pavek. P. 2011. Plants 

for pollinators in the Intermountain West. Plant Materials Technical Note 2A. Boise, ID, 

Salt Lake City, UT, and Spokane, WA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resources 

Conservation Service. 40 p.

Pollinator Plants: California. 2017. Portland, OR: Xerces Society. https://xerces.org/

pollinator-conservation/plant-lists/pollinator-plants-california/ [Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

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of Washington, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture. http://biology.burke.

washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection.php. [Accessed 2018 Oct 30].

Resources
64 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Species 

group

Common 

name or 

type

Family and genera 

(predominately non-native weed 

genera are bolded)

Use

 HIGH IMPORTANCE

Sage 

shrubs

Sagebrush, 

rabbitbrush, 

horsebrush

Asteraceae: Artemisia, Chrysothamnus, 

Ericameria, Tetradymia

Food, 

cover 

Other 

shrubs

Desert 

shrubs

Amaranthaceae: Atriplex, Sarcobatus; 

Rosaceae: Cercocarpus, Purshia Cover

Composites 

with 

milky sap

Dandeliontype 

owers

Asteraceae (Chicoriae tribe): 

Agoseris, Chondrilla, Cichorium, Crepis, Hypochaeris, Lactuca, Lapsana, Leontodon, Lygodesmia, 

Malacothrix, Microseris, Mulgedium, Prenanthes, 

Sonchus, Stephanomeria, Taraxacum, Tragopogon

Food

Tender

legumes Vetches

Fabaceae: 

Astragalus, Dalea, Hedysarum, Lathyrus, Lotus, 

Medicago, Oxytropis, ermopsis, Trifolium, Vicia

Food

Tender

forbs

Chickweeds, 

waterleafs, 

mallows, 

phloxs

Amaranthaceae: Monolepis; 

Cactaceae: Opuntia; 

Caryophyllaceae: Cerastium, Eremogone, Stellaria;

Hydrophyllaceae: Phacelia; 

Geraniaceae: Erodium, Geranium; 

Malvaceae: Sphaeralcea; 

Loasaceae: Mentzelia; 

Polemoniaceae: Collomia, Gilia, Ipomopsis, 

Leptosiphon, Microsteris, Phlox; 

Montiaceae: Claytonia, Lewisia, Montia; 

Saxifragaceae: Geum, Lithophragma; 

Valerianaceae: Plectritis, Valeriana

Food

Table A.1. Species groups, families, and genera (excluding grasses) thought to be important for 

Greater Sage-grouse, in general order of importance. List initially compiled by Roger Rosentreter 

(BLM botanist, retired) and amended by Mark Mousseaux.

Appendix—Species groups, families, and genera 

(excluding grasses) thought to be important for Greater Sage-grouse, in 

general order of importance
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 65

Species 

group

Common 

name or 

type

Family and genera 

(predominately non-native weed 

genera are bolded)

Use

 MODERATE IMPORTANCE

Asters and 

other 

composites

Asters

Asteraceae: 

Arnica, Aster (Symphyotrichum), Balsamorhiza, 

Bidens, Chaenactis, Conyza, Coreopsis, Crocidium, 

Dieteria, Enceliopsis, Erigeron, Eriophyllum, 

Gaillardia, Gutierrezia, Haplopappus, Helenium, 

Helianthella, Helianthus, Heterotheca, Hulsea, 

Hymenoxys, Iva, Ratibida, Rudbeckia, Senecio, 

Stenotus, Solidago, Townsendia, Xanthium, Wyethia 

Food

Lily Lilies Liliaceae: Allium, Brodiaea, Calochortus, 

Camassia, Fritillaria Food

Desert 

parsley Biscuitroots Apiaceae: Cymopterus, Lomatium, Perideridia Food

Figwort

Penstemon, 

old gworts, 

monkey-owers

Plantaginaceae: Collinsia, Penstemon, Synthyris;

Orobanchaceae: Castilleja, Orthocarpus; 

Phrymaceae: Diplacus, Erythranthe

Food

Buckwheat Buckwheats Polygonaceae: Eriogonum Food
66 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Achene—A simple one-seeded indehiscent 

fruit, with the seed attached to the fruit wall 

at one point. 

Alternate—Refers to leaves or buds that 

are positioned singly along the stem or 

axis, rather than in pairs opposite each 

other or in whorls. 

Annual—A plant that completes its life 

cycle in one growing season or one year; it 

germinates grows, produces owers, sets 

seeds, and then dies. Compare biennial 

and perennial.

Anther—e pollen bearing structure of 

the stamen that can be free or fused, and is 

usually born on a stalk (lament). 

Anthesis—e period of time that a plant 

is owering.

Ascending—Rising obliquely or curving 

upward from near the base, usually at an 

angle of 40–60°.

Awn—A long, bristle-like appendage on 

the summit of a seed or sepal tip.

Axil—e angle formed by the upper side 

of a leaf and the stem.

Axillary—Leaves, buds, or stems that 

originate in the axil of a leaf.

Banner (petal)—e broad, uppermost 

petal of a pea-shaped ower (Fabaceae).

Biennial—A plant that normally requires 

two years to complete its life cycle; vegetative growth occurs the rst year, with 

owering, fruiting, and death occurring 

the second year. Compare annual and 

perennial.

Bi-pinnate—A pinnate leaf with the 

primary leaets divided again in a pinnate 

manner.

Bisexual (ower)—Refers to male and 

female reproductive structures present 

within the same ower.

Bloom—A waxy powder covering the leaf 

surface.

Botanical variety—A category in taxonomic hierarchy that is below the species 

and subspecies level.

Bract—A smaller, modied leaf that subtends a ower or inorescence.

Bractlet—A small leaf-like organ oen occurring between a true bract and the calyx.

Bulb—A short underground, modied 

stem, consisting of eshy leaf scales that 

serve as a storage organ.

Bulbil—A small secondary bulb that develops in leaf axils or the inorescence.

Bulblet—A small secondary bulb that 

develops at the base of a mature bulb. 

Calyx—Collective term for all sepals, free 

or fused, in a ower.

Capillary (bristles)—in, hair- or 

thread-like bristles of a pappus.

Capsule—A dry, dehiscent fruit derived 

from a ower that splits open along sutures 

when seeds mature.

Caudex—A short thickened, oen woody, 

perennial stem that is subterranean or just 

at ground level.

Cauline—Borne on the stem.

Glossary
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 67

non-functional, and usually have a tiny 

fused corolla and without a conspicuous 

strap-shaped ray appendage. Compare 

ray (ower).

Elliptic (elliptical)—In the form of a 

attened circle more than twice as long as 

broad.

Endemic—A plant or animal species that 

is found in a particular and usually limited 

geographical area and habitat and is found 

nowhere else.

Entire—Refers to a leaf margin without 

teeth. Same as smooth. 

Even-pinnate—A pinnate leaf with two 

terminal leaets. Compare odd-pinnate.

Exerted—Extending beyond the margins 

of the corolla lobes.

Fascicle—A close bundle of leaves that 

oen occur in the leaf axil.

Fibrous (roots)—A root system with all 

the root branches of approximately equal 

thickness and resembling bers.

Filament—e elongated stalk of a stamen 

that bears an anther at the tip.

Flowerhead—e inorescence of 

members of the Asteraceae that consists 

of disk owers surrounded by ray owers 

to resemble one large functioning ower. 

Flower heads can also be composed of disk 

owers only or ray owers only. Same as 

head.

Follicle—A dry dehiscent fruit that splits 

open at maturity along a single side.

Forb—A owering herbaceous plant usually with conspicuous owers. Term is usually applied to all herbaceous plants other 

than grasses, sedges, rushes, bulrushes, 

reeds, and cattails.

Claw—A long, narrow base of petals or 

sepals.

Corolla—Collective term for all petals, 

free or fused, in a ower.

Corymb—A at topped raceme with the 

outermost pedicels being longest and 

opening their owers rst.

Crown—e persistent base of an herbaceous perennial; or the junction of the 

stem and root in a plant.

Cyme—A at topped or round topped 

inorescence in which the terminal ower 

blooms rst.

Deciduous—Refers to the plants that drop 

their leaves or owers during the growing 

season.

Decumbent—A growth habit where the 

stems lie close to the ground while the 

upper portion of the stem is usually erect 

or ascending.

Dehiscent—A dry fruit that splits open at 

maturity to release its seeds.

Dentate—A leaf margin with teeth or 

indentations pointing outwards at right 

angles to the mid-rib.

Dichotomous—Branching pattern by 

repeated forking in pairs.

Dimorphic (owers)—A plant bearing 

two types of owers, usually one type 

being functionally bisexual and the other 

type being either functionally staminate or 

pistillate.

Dioecious—Having male and female owers 

on separate plants of the same species.

Disc (ower)—e central owers in a 

ower head of the Asteraceae, that are 

bisexual or unisexual, functional or 
68 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Internode—e area on a stem between 

leaf buds. See node.

Involucre—One or more whorls of small 

bracts (phyllaries) that subtend a ower or 

inorescence, as seen in Asteraceae.

Keel (petal)—e two-united, lower 

petals of a pea-shaped ower of the 

Fabaceae.

Keeled—Having a raised ridge or crease 

above the tissue surface.

Lance—A leaf shape that is much longer 

than broad; widening above the base and 

tapering to the tip.

Lateral—Borne on or pertaining to the side 

of an organ or structure, as in lateral buds.

Leaet—One of the distinct and separate 

leaf divisions of a compound leaf.

Legume—A member of the Fabaceae; or 

the dehiscent fruit of a legume species that 

splits opens along two lines at maturity; 

same as pod.

Ligule—A strap-shaped corolla as in the 

ray owers of the Asteraceae.

Linear—Long and narrow with the sides 

parallel and oen more than 10 times as 

long as broad.

Locule—A compartment or chamber of 

the ovary.

Loment—Modied legume fruit having 

constrictions between the seeds.

Membranous—Refers to leaves, fruits, or 

other structures that are so, exible, and 

oen translucent.

Nocturnal—Refers to owers that open at 

twilight and nighttime.

Free—Refers to ower parts, leaves or 

other structures that are not fused. Compare fused.

Fruit—A ripened ovary, and any other 

structures that are attached to it and ripen 

with it.

Fused—Refers to leaves, petals, sepals or 

seeds that are coalesced together for all or 

part of their length.

Glabrous—Not-hairy or glandular

Gland—A secretory structure.

Glandular hair—A hair-like stalk with a 

gland at its apex.

Glaucous—A waxy-like bloom on the 

surface of leaves and stems that oen give 

foliage a bluish-green cast.

Head—Densely packed cluster of owers 

as seen in the Asteraceae.

Heart-shaped—Refers to a leaf that is 

broad with two rounded basal lobes and a 

rounded or pointed tip. 

Hemispheric—Refers to a ower head 

or inorescence that is broadly shaped as 

one-half of a circle with the highest point 

at the center.

Herbaceous (life form)—A non-woody 

plant whose stems and leaves die back 

to ground level at the end of the growing 

season; a plant without a persistent above 

ground woody stem.

Imperfect (owers)—Flowers with ether 

stamens or pistils but not both; same as 

unisexual. Compare perfect (owers) and 

bisexual (owers).

Inorescence—An arrangement of more 

than one or usually multiple owers on a 

single stalk.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 69

and pistils) in the same ower; same as 

bisexual. Compare imperfect (owers); 

unisexual.

Perianth—A collective term for the outer, 

non-reproductive parts of a ower.

Persistent—Remaining attached, not 

falling free.

Petal—A modied structure that is oen 

colored that serves as a visual aid to attract pollinators; petals collectively form 

the corolla.

Petiole—e stem leaf; the stalk attaching 

the leaf blade to the stem.

Phyllary—One of the bracts that forms 

the involucre head or inorescence in the 

Asteraceae.

Pinnate—A leaf having separate leaets 

along each side of a common stalk.

Pinnatid—Pinnately cle or divided.

Pistil—e female reproductive structure 

in a ower that consists of a stigma, style, 

and ovary.

Pistillate (ower)—A ower bearing only 

female reproductive organs or sometimes 

with rudimentary, non-functional male 

organs.

Pod—A dry dehiscent fruit; usually refers 

to a legume fruit.

Prostrate—Refers to the plant habit 

where it grows at on the ground; not 

matted or upright.

Puberulent—Minutely hairy.

Pubescent—Covered with short, so hairs.

Node—e point on the stem where leaves 

are attached or the point of branching on 

the stem.

Nutlet—A small nut; one of a group of 

small hard seeds.

Oblong—Refers to a shape that is much 

longer than broad.

Obtuse—Blunt or rounded at the apex.

Odd-pinnate—A pinnate leaf with one 

terminal leaet.

Opposite—Having two leaves, buds, or 

owers at a node, one on each side of the 

stem; or having one organ in front of another, such as stamens in front of the petals.

Palate—e raised, prominent ridges on 

the throat of a ower.

Palmate—Having lobes or divisions radiating from a common point.

Panicle—An indeterminate inorescence 

that has a branched main axis with owers 

borne on secondary branches and on individual pedicels.

Pappus—A modied outer perianth limb 

in the Asteraceae arising from the summit 

of the ovary and consists of hairs, bristles, 

scales, awns, or feather-like appendages.

Pedicel—e stalk of an individual ower.

Pendulous—Hanging or drooping.

Peduncle—e stalk of an inorescence or 

the stalk of a solitary ower.

Perennial—A plant that lives 3+ years. 

Compare annual and biennial.

Perfect (owers)—Having male and 

female reproductive structures (stamens 
70 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Serrate—Refers to toothed leaf margins.

Sessile—Attached direct to the stalk without a petiole or peduncle.

Simple—Composed of one identical unit 

(leaf), not compound.

Smooth—Refers to leaf margins without 

teeth or indentations; or leaf or stem 

surfaces without hairs or glands. Same as 

entire.

Solitary—A ower or fruit that is borne 

singly.

Spatulate—Spoon-shaped leaves with a 

narrower base and a widened apex with a 

rounded tip.

Species—A group of individuals that 

usually breed only with one another and 

exhibit certain morphological characteristics. 

Spike—An unbranched, elongated inorescence having owers without stalks that 

are borne directly on the main stem of the 

inorescence, maturing from the bottom 

upwards. Compare raceme.

Spur—A hollow projection at the base of a 

corolla, sepal, or petal.

Stamen e male reproductive organ in 

owers, consisting of an anther borne on a 

slender lament (stalk). 

Staminate—Having or producing the male 

gametes; such as the male pollen cones in 

gymnosperms or male owers in angiosperms.

Staminode—A sterile stamen that does 

not produce pollen and is oen showy and 

petal-like. 

Stigma—e portion of the pistil that is 

receptive to pollen.

Raceme—An unbranched, elongated in-

orescence on which the owers are borne 

on stalks, maturing from the bottom of the 

inorescence upwards. Compare spike.

Ray ower—A ligulate ower in the inorescence (head) of many members of the 

Asteraceae. Ray owers oen supercially 

resemble petals of a ower. Compare disc 

ower.

Ray (hair)—Hairs that are forked into 

more than one appendage from a common axis; as seen in some members of the 

Brassicaceae.

Receptacle—e cup or disk-like portion 

of the axis of the ower stalk in which the 

ower is held.

Recurved—Bent or curved downward or 

backward.

Reexed—A leaf, sepal, bract, petal, or 

stem that is curved outward.

Rhizomatous—Producing or having 

rhizomes.

Rhizome—A specialized stem in which 

the main axis of the plant grows horizontally 

or vertically at or below the soil surface, and 

can be either thickened or very slender and 

can be woody or non-woody.

Rosette—A dense radiating cluster of 

leaves usually at or near ground level.

Scale—A small, thin, or at structure

Scape—A leaess owering stalk.

Seed—A ripened ovule that consists of an 

embryo, seed coat, and usually nutritive 

tissue (endosperm in owering plants).

Sepal—e leafy bract-like structure that 

subtends the petals and that normally encloses other oral parts in bud. See calyx.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 71

Tued—Leaves, stems, or hairs arising 

from a common point.

Umbel—An umbrella shaped inorescence 

arrangement as seen in members of the 

Apiaceae.

Unisexual (ower)—A ower with either 

male or female reproductive parts, but not 

both. See imperfect (owers). Compare 

bisexual (owers) and perfect (owers).

Variety (botanical)—A subdivision of a 

species that dier as a group in some minor 

but denable characteristic(s) from the rest 

of the species.

Whorled—A group of 3+ leaves or owers 

at a node.

Wing—A papery, leathery, and usually at 

appendage attached to a seed or fruit that 

aids in its dispersal; or a raised outgrowth 

along stem margins; or referring to lateral 

petals in owers of the Fabaceae. 

Stipule—A small, modied leaf-like 

structure that subtends leaves. Stipules are 

variable and can appear as spines, glands, 

leaves, or scales.

Style—e usually narrowed portion of 

the pistil that connects the stigma to the 

ovary.

Subsessile—Flowers or leaves that are 

borne on barely discernable stalks usually 

less than 1 mm long.

Subshrub—A perennial with stems that 

are woody at the base; a surutescent 

perennial.

Subtend—Occurring beneath.

Succulent—A plant species that possesses 

thick stems, roots, and leaf storage tissue; 

or a species having thickened and oen fat 

leaves.

Surutescent—Woody only at the base of 

the stem.

Suture—e seam at which dehiscence or 

splitting occurs along a mature fruit wall.

Taproot—e main root axis from which 

smaller root branches arise; a root system 

with a main root axis and smaller branches. 

Compare brous (roots).

Tendril—A long, slender, modied leaf or 

stem that aids a plant to climb for support.

Tepal—Perianth segments undierentiated into distinct petals and sepals.

Tomentose—Covered with long or short 

so hairs.

Tube—e elongated oral tube, or more 

rarely the elongated calyx. 

Tubular—Refers to owers that possess an 

elongated oral tube.
72 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Dieteria canescens ................... 9

Diplacus nanus ..................... 42

Eremogone aculeata ................. 19

Eremogone capillaris ................ 19

Eremogone congesta ................ 20

Eremogone kingii ................... 20

Erigeron corymbosus ................ 10

Erigeron lifolius ................... 10

Erigeron linearis .................... 11

Erigeron pumilus ................... 11

Eriogonum heracleoides ............. 53

Eriogonum ovalifolium .............. 54

Eriogonum sphaerocephalum ......... 54

Eriophyllum lanatum ................ 12

Erythranthe suksdori ............... 43

Geranium carolinianum ............. 31

Geranium viscosissimum ............ 31

Geum macrophyllum ................ 55

Geum triorum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Gilia inconspicua ................... 46

Gilia sinuata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Gilia tweedyi ....................... 47

Gymnosteris nudicaulis .............. 48

Hedysarum boreale ................. 28

Hesperochiron pumilus .............. 32

Horkelia fusca ...................... 56

Hydrophyllum capitatum ............ 32

Ipomopsis aggregata. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Ipomopsis congesta ................. 49

Lathyrus pauciorus ................ 29

Leptosiphon harknessii .............. 49

Leptosiphon septentrionalis .......... 50

Lewisia rediviva .................... 41

Agoseris glauca ...................... 4

Agoseris heterophylla ................. 5

Agoseris parviora ................... 5

Aliciella leptomeria ................. 45

Allium anceps ...................... 35

Allium tolmiei ...................... 35

Astragalus conjunctus ............... 23

Astragalus curvicarpus .............. 24

Astragalus lipes .................... 24

Astragalus lentiginosus .............. 25

Astragalus malacus .................. 25

Astragalus newberryi ................ 26

Astragalus obscurus ................. 26

Astragalus purshii ................... 27

Astragalus whitneyi ................. 27

Balsamorhiza hookeri ................ 6 

Balsamorhiza sagittata ................ 6

Calochortus macrocarpus ............ 36

Castilleja chromosa ................. 42 

Cerastium arvense .................. 18

Chaenactis douglasii ................. 7

Claytonia parviora ................. 39

Claytonia perfoliata ................. 40

Claytonia rubra ..................... 40

Collinsia grandiora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Collinsia parviora .................. .44

Collomia linearis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Collomia tinctoria .................. 46

Crepis acuminata .................... 7

Crepis atribarba ..................... 8

Crepis modocensis ................... 8

Crepis occidentalis ................... 9 

Dalea ornata ....................... 28

Index of Scientic Names
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 73

Phacelia linearis .................... 34

Phlox aculeata ...................... 51

Phlox hoodii ....................... 52

Phlox longifolia ..................... 52

Plectritis macrocera ................. 58

Polemonium micranthum ............ 53

Potentilla gracilis ................... 56

Sedum lanceolatum ................. 23

Senecio integerrimus ................ 16

Sidalcea oregana .................... 38

Silene douglasii ..................... 21

Silene menziesii .................... 22

Solidago missouriensis .............. 15

Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia .......... 38

Sphaeralcea munroana .............. 39

Stellaria longipes .................... 22

Stephanomeria exigua ............... 16

Stephanomeria tenuifolia ............ 17

Symphyotrichum ascendens .......... 17

Trifolium eriocephalum .............. 29

Trifolium macrocephalum ........... 30

Valeriana occidentalis ............... 59

Vicia americana .................... 30

Viola beckwithii .................... 59

Viola praemorsa .................... 60

Viola purpurea ..................... 60

Viola vallicola ...................... 61

Linanthus pungens .................. 50

Lithophragma glabrum .............. 57

Lithophragma parviorum ........... 57

Lithophragma tenellum .............. 58

Lomatium cous ...................... 3

Lomatium macrocarpum ............. 3

Lomatium triternatum ................ 4

Machaeranthera canescens . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Malacothrix glabrata ................ 12

Malacothrix torreyi ................. 13

Mentzelia albicaulis ................. 36

Mentzelia dispersa .................. 37

Mentzelia laevicaulis ................ 37

Micromonolepis pusilla ............... 2

Microseris nutans ................... 13

Microsteris gracilis .................. 51

Minuartia nuttallii .................. 21

Monolepis nuttalliana ................ 2

Montia linearis ..................... 41

Mulgedium pulchellum .............. 14

Nemacladus rigidus ................. 18

Nothocalais troximoides ............. 14

Packera cana ....................... 15

Penstemon speciosus ................ 43

Phacelia glandulifera ................ 33

Phacelia hastata .................... 33

Phacelia heterophylla ................ 34
74 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Chickweed and Sandwort

 Dense-owered sandwort ........... 20

Field chickweed ................... 18

King’s sandwort ................... 20

Long-stalked starwort .............. 22

Mountain sandwort ................ 19

Nuttall’s sandwort ................. 21

Needleleaf sandwort ............... 19

Clover (see Sweet Vetch)

Daisy and Fleabane

Desert yellow daisy ................ 11

Foothill daisy ..................... 10

readleaf eabane ................ 10

Shaggy daisy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Dandelion and Agoseris

Annual agoseris .................... 5

Blue lettuce ....................... 14

Bush wirelettuce................... 17

Desert dandelion .................. 12

Torrey’s desert dandelion ........... 13

Mountain dandelion ................ 4

Nodding microseris................ 13

Sagebrush agoseris.................. 5

Sagebrush false dandelion .......... 14

Small wirelettuce .................. 16

Fleabane (see Daisy)

Geranium

Carolina geranium................. 31

Sticky geranium ................... 31

Gilia and Trumpet Flower

Great Basin gilia ................... 45

Harkness gilia ..................... 49

Agoseris (see Dandelion)

Aster

Dustymaiden ...................... 7

Hoary aster ........................ 9

Long-leaved aster.................. 17

Balsamroot

Hooker’s balsamroot ................ 6 

Arrowleaf balsamroot ............... 6

Biscuitroot

Bigseed biscuitroot.................. 3

Cous biscuitroot .................... 3

Nineleaf biscuitroot ................. 4

Bitterroot .......................... 41

Blazingstar

Bushy blazingstar.................. 37

Giant blazingstar .................. 37

Whitestem blazingstar.............. 36

Blue-eyed Mary

Blue-eyed Mary ................... 44

Giant blue-eyed Mary .............. 44

Buckwheat

Creamy buckwheat................. 53

Cushion buckwheat ................ 54

Round-headed desert buckwheat .... 54

Catchy

Douglas’ catchy .................. 21

Menzies’ catchy .................. 22

Index of Common Names
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018. 75

Newberry’s milkvetch .............. 26

Shaggy milkvetch .................. 25

Sickle milkvetch ................... 24 

 Woollypod milkvetch............... 27

Miner’s Lettuce (see Springbeauty)

Monkeyower

Dwarf monkeyower............... 42

Suksdorf ’s monkeyower ........... 43

Onion

Kellogg’s onion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Tolmei’s onion..................... 35

Paintbrush, desert .................. 42

Penstemon, royal .................... 43

Phacelia

readleaf phacelia ................ 34

Silverleaf phacelia.................. 33

Sticky phacelia .................... 33

Varileaf phacelia................... 34

Phlox

Annual phlox ..................... 51

Annual polemonium ............... 53

Hood’s phlox ...................... 52

Longleaf phlox .................... 52

Granite prickly phlox............... 50

Northern linanthus ................ 50

Sagebrush phlox ................... 51

Plectritis, longspur white ............. 58

Poverty Weed

Dwarf monolepis ................... 2

Patata ............................. 2

Nakedstem gymnosteris ............ 48

Rosy gilia ......................... 47

Scarlet gilia ....................... 48

Shy gilia .......................... 46

Tiny trumpet...................... 45

Tweedy’s gila ...................... 47

White pollen skyrocket ............. 49

Yellow-staining collomia............ 46

Goldenrod, Missouri................. 15

Groundsel

Western groundsel ................. 16

Woolly groundsel .................. 15

Hawksbeard

Modoc hawksbeard ................. 8

Slender hawksbeard................. 8

Tapertip hawksbeard ................ 7

Western hawksbeard ................ 9

Hesperochiron, dwarf ................ 32

Lily, sagebrush mariposa ............. 36

Mallow

Gooseberryleaf globemallow ........ 38

Munro’s globemallow............... 39

Oregon checkermallow ............. 38

Microseris (see Dandelion)

Milkvetch

Arcane milkvetch .................. 26

Balloon milkvetch ................. 27

Basalt milkvetch................... 24

Freckled milkvetch................. 25

Idaho milkvetch ................... 23
76 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-387. 2018.

Sweet Vetch and Clover

American vetch ................... 30

Big head clover .................... 30

Boreal sweetvetch.................. 28

Steppe sweetpea ................... 29

Western prairie clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Woollyhead clover ................. 29

readplant, stoutstem............... 18

Valerian, western.................... 59

Violet

Beckwith’s violet................... 59

Goosefoot violet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Upland yellow violet ............... 60

Valley yellow violet................. 61

Waterleaf, ballhead .................. 32

Rose

Five-nger cinquefoil............... 56

Largeleaf avens.................... 55

Prairie smoke ..................... 55

Tawny horkelia .................... 56

Sandwort (see Chickweed)

Star

Prairie star........................ 57

Rocket star ....................... 57

Slender woodland star.............. 58

Stonecrop, spearleaf ................. 23

Springbeauty and Miner’s Lettuce

Miner’s lettuce .................... 40

Narrowleaf miner’s lettuce .......... 41

Red miner’s lettuce................. 40

Streambank springbeauty ........... 39

Sunshine, Oregon ................... 12
77

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78