21 April 2013

Spring blooms II

Some flowers today from Finley National Wildlife Refuge in the Willamette Valley:

Iris were common on an eastern-facing hillside at the Refuge. There was variation in
 plant color from deep purple to the lighter colors depicted here.

Camassia quamash.

Sidalcea sp. This plant is in the Malvaceae, a family that includes Hibiscus. A quick
 trick to identify plants in this family: look for the fused stamens.

Castilleja levisecta. There is a re-introduced population of this rare plant at the Refuge.
I first learned of this small population last year. Many plants were in bloom today.
I love the brilliant yellows emerging from the darker purplish leaves.