hello, I wonder if anyone could assist this photographer in identifying these alpine flowers? Appreciate any feedback. Thanks very much. Keith (hopefully the pix will attach/upload properly)
I think the first one is an yellow indian paint brush and the 4th is one i just asked about, Rhodiola integrifolia http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=15816 Just curious, where did you take the photos?
Hi, These pix were taken in north-central BC on the edge of the Babine Mtns Prov. Park. at about 5000' elevation just a few days ago. I thought the first yellow one was a form of Paintbrush...but there are several types of yellow paintbrush in the books I have... The small white one I thought might be Spotted Saxifrage. The succulent might be a Stonecrop like Rose Root?? The pink one might be a Phlox or Moss Pink...?? The yellow might be Arnica? Unfortunately, 'might be' on a photo caption doenst look too good, so I need further ID. Thanks Keith
I would agree with your guess on the Arnica. Paintbrush...there are hundreds of subspecies or phenotypes (not sure which it would be technically). I've been to canyons where I see a certain paintbrush there and only there.
They're giving you leads with which to do your own checking, something you should do anyway with or without qualifiers like might be. Getting full names from here and then putting them on your pictures without any further effort on your part is not an expectation I would recommend.
Gee, thanks for wonderful reply...I did my own initial checking..coming up with the names I posted...I'm providing the leads... If you dont have anything positive to add to the thread I started dont waste your time replying. If you dont want to assist in the inquiry...dont waste your time replying...simple as that... I think I figured out the common type names...I was looking to more experienced people for further defining...sharing of information...if that's too much for this forum...well so be it
I'm not quite sure why keith's question would be handled any differently from any of the other dozens of plant ID questions each week - but I think there's some miscommunication going on that is a fault of the text-based medium, as opposed to conversation (where these things would likely not happen). Very likely Castilleja sulphurea. As previously mentioned, genus is riddled with variability, but I don't think there are too many yellow ones in your area. Arnica sp., possibly Arnica cordifolia. Foliage is needed to identify with more certainty. Saxifraga sp. Photograph of entire plant is needed to identify. British Columbia has around thirty species. Definitely Sedum integrifolium, as previously mentioned. Last one is not a Phlox, but instead Silene. I think Silene acaulis is a safe bet.
Daniel, A couple more Castillja possibilities - C. cusickii & C. thompsonii I also think the Arnica might as likely be latifolia White flowered plant may be Minuartia tenella - another guess.
Yes, I mis-read "Unfortunately, 'might be' on a photo caption doenst look too good, so I need further ID." as a response to suggested identifications listed above that statement. It remains true that everyone here should still always follow-up with checking of their own, in case someone gives them a bum steer.
I can confirm the Castilleja sulphurea as I just Id'd a Castilleja lutescens here in Spokane and it came down to a choice of three. Castilleja sulphurea was the only yellow paint brush found at that altitude. Taking a second look at the book becuase of Gordos suggestions above: Probably not C. thompsonii because of the shape of the calyx, but well could C. cusickii. Would need to look at the leaves to make sure. And at best plant identification from photographs is an inexact art to say the least. There have been discussions on this forum where several people looking at the same photograph pick on different attributes and come up with different ID's. But I'd still bet my money on the crew of experts that habituate this forum. Myself excluded. Harry
I would say that white flowered plant is most likely a saxifrage and probably Spotted saxifrage or Saxifraga bronchialis as the species. And from there you would need to see the leaves to select which variety. Which was why Daniel probably made his comment along those lines. I came to this conclusion because I can (just) make out the spotted petals in the middle to lower blooms in the photo and the typical flower parts for Saxifraga. Again, I'm using 'Flora of PNW' as a reference and a local one might have more than one species Saxifrage with with spotted petals. Harry
Just a comment, not a criticism...I can find most if not all of these flowers where I live, (southern Rocky Mountiains in northern New Mexico, USA) so these flowers are not specifically of the PNW. The difference is that keith is seeing these at 5000 ft asl, whereas I know I don't see the yellow Indian Paintbrush nor the Rhodiola integrifolia below 10000 ft asl. Given that I am further south, the difference in altitudes probably gives about the same climate, at least with respect to temperature.
Allopath wrote: If you look at the USDA plants pages range maps you can see that many plants are everywhere. My comment about maybe more than one Spotted Saxifrage was only due to the fact that there are some plants, both native and introduced that are only found in Canada and not in the US. Although in the case of introduced invasives, I think we are all blighted equally; if not now in the future. :) Harry
