Vascular Plants
Includes all flowering plants, conifers, ferns and fern-allies.
Common names beginning with E:
43 common names
Show only taxa with photos
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Index to common names:
ear, eatonella, eelgrass, elder, elderberry, elecampane, elephant's-head, elk-moss, elkslip, elkweed, elm, Elmera, eriogonum, eryngo, euclidium, evening primrose, evening-primrose, everlasting, eye, eyebright, eyelashweed, eyesMouse ear (Myosotis arvensis)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon, east across the northern half of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, wastelots, and forest openings, typically associated with disturbance.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon, east across the northern half of North America to the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, wastelots, and forest openings, typically associated with disturbance.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: May-July
White Eatonella (Eatonella nivea)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in central Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, sandy, or volcanic desert areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in central Washington; Washington to California, east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Dry, sandy, or volcanic desert areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
American eelgrass (Vallisneria americana)
Distribution: Native from Quebec to Texas and Florida; introduced in Dry Falls Coulee, Grant County, and several lakes west of the Cascades in Washington; also in Oregon and Idaho
Habitat: Ponds, lakes and quiet streams
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Flowers: July - September
Distribution: Native from Quebec to Texas and Florida; introduced in Dry Falls Coulee, Grant County, and several lakes west of the Cascades in Washington; also in Oregon and Idaho
Habitat: Ponds, lakes and quiet streams
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Flowers: July - September
Common eelgrass (Zostera marina)
Distribution: Occurring in Washington\'s coastal counties; Alaska to California along the coast; also on the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Sub-tidal area.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring in Washington\'s coastal counties; Alaska to California along the coast; also on the Atlantic Coast.
Habitat: Sub-tidal area.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Dwarf eelgrass (Nanozostera japonica)
Distribution: Occurring in coastal counties in Washington; Alaska to California along the immediate coast.
Habitat: Coastal mudflats from high tide line to sub-tidal zone.
Origin: Introduced from Japan
Flowers: April-September
Distribution: Occurring in coastal counties in Washington; Alaska to California along the immediate coast.
Habitat: Coastal mudflats from high tide line to sub-tidal zone.
Origin: Introduced from Japan
Flowers: April-September
Eelgrass (Vallisneria americana)
Distribution: Native from Quebec to Texas and Florida; introduced in Dry Falls Coulee, Grant County, and several lakes west of the Cascades in Washington; also in Oregon and Idaho
Habitat: Ponds, lakes and quiet streams
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Flowers: July - September
Distribution: Native from Quebec to Texas and Florida; introduced in Dry Falls Coulee, Grant County, and several lakes west of the Cascades in Washington; also in Oregon and Idaho
Habitat: Ponds, lakes and quiet streams
Origin: Introduced from eastern North America
Flowers: July - September
Narrow-bladed eelgrass (Nanozostera japonica)
Distribution: Occurring in coastal counties in Washington; Alaska to California along the immediate coast.
Habitat: Coastal mudflats from high tide line to sub-tidal zone.
Origin: Introduced from Japan
Flowers: April-September
Distribution: Occurring in coastal counties in Washington; Alaska to California along the immediate coast.
Habitat: Coastal mudflats from high tide line to sub-tidal zone.
Origin: Introduced from Japan
Flowers: April-September
Red elder (Sambucus racemosa)
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout much of Washington; ranging throughout the United States and Canada, except the southern States.
Habitat: A wide variety of areas, typically in forests, fields, and wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: March-July
Distribution: Widely distributed throughout much of Washington; ranging throughout the United States and Canada, except the southern States.
Habitat: A wide variety of areas, typically in forests, fields, and wet areas.
Origin: Native
Flowers: March-July
Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Distribution: Uncommon west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to northern Oregon; eastern North America where S. nigra var. canadensis is native. and var. nigra is more frequently escaped.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where rarely escaping from nearby cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe and eastern North America
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Uncommon west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to northern Oregon; eastern North America where S. nigra var. canadensis is native. and var. nigra is more frequently escaped.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where rarely escaping from nearby cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Europe and eastern North America
Flowers: May-July
Blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea)
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Forest edge, fields, and roadsides from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; southern British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Forest edge, fields, and roadsides from near sea level to middle elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Elecampane (Inula helenium)
Distribution: Known in Washington from a single location east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, also in central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: June-September
Distribution: Known in Washington from a single location east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, also in central and eastern North America.
Habitat: Roadsides, fields, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas at low elevations.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: June-September
Bull elephant's-head (Pedicularis groenlandica)
Distribution: Alaska to California, east to Montana, Colorado and New Mexico
Habitat: Seeps, lake shores and other wet areas at mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Distribution: Alaska to California, east to Montana, Colorado and New Mexico
Habitat: Seeps, lake shores and other wet areas at mid- to high elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: June - August
Elk-moss (Lycopodium clavatum)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, also in central and eastern North America; circumboreal
Habitat: Moist coniferous woods and swamps.
Origin: Native
Spores: Produces spores April-October
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, also in central and eastern North America; circumboreal
Habitat: Moist coniferous woods and swamps.
Origin: Native
Spores: Produces spores April-October
Elkslip (Caltha leptosepala)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet places in subalpine and alpine regions.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Wet places in subalpine and alpine regions.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Elkweed (Frasera speciosa)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington to California, east to the Great Plains.
Habitat: Slopes, forest openings, and meadows from middle elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
American elm (Ulmus americana)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; native to eastern and central North America, though escaped from cultivation elsewhere.
Habitat: Woodlands, pastures, old fields at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: February-April
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; native to eastern and central North America, though escaped from cultivation elsewhere.
Habitat: Woodlands, pastures, old fields at low to moderate elevations.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: February-April
Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations east of the Cascades crest in Washington; occurring from scattered locations in North America where escaped from cultivation.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: April-May
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations east of the Cascades crest in Washington; occurring from scattered locations in North America where escaped from cultivation.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: April-May
Field elm (Ulmus procera)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington, but also known from Kittitas County. Known from states scattered in southwestern, central, and northeastern U.S.
Habitat: Riparian areas, often where disturbed.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: March-April
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington, but also known from Kittitas County. Known from states scattered in southwestern, central, and northeastern U.S.
Habitat: Riparian areas, often where disturbed.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: March-April
Little-leaved elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations east of the Cascades crest in Washington; occurring from scattered locations in North America where escaped from cultivation.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: April-May
Distribution: Occurring in scattered locations east of the Cascades crest in Washington; occurring from scattered locations in North America where escaped from cultivation.
Habitat: Disturbed areas where escaping from cultivation.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: April-May
Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila)
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; introduced over much of the North America, where commonly escaping and naturalizing.
Habitat: Roadsides, fence rows, waste areas.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: February-April
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; introduced over much of the North America, where commonly escaping and naturalizing.
Habitat: Roadsides, fence rows, waste areas.
Origin: Introduced from Asia
Flowers: February-April
Elmera (Elmera racemosa)
Distribution: In the Olympic and Cascade Mountains of Washington; Washington south to Oregon.
Habitat: Rock crevices and rocky ridges and slopes, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: In the Olympic and Cascade Mountains of Washington; Washington south to Oregon.
Habitat: Rock crevices and rocky ridges and slopes, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Oval-leaved eriogonum (Eriogonum ovalifolium)
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Sagebrush deserts, juniper and ponderosa pine forests, to alpine ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Sagebrush deserts, juniper and ponderosa pine forests, to alpine ridges.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Parsnip-flowered eriogonum (Eriogonum heracleoides)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
Habitat: Deeper soil of shrub-steppe to ponderosa pine forests and rocky ridges at middle elevation in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
Habitat: Deeper soil of shrub-steppe to ponderosa pine forests and rocky ridges at middle elevation in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Round-headed eriogonum (Eriogonum sphaerocephalum)
Distribution: East of the Cascades in Washington; Chelan County, Washington south to California and east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Sagebrush or juniper flats to ponderosa pine forests at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: East of the Cascades in Washington; Chelan County, Washington south to California and east to Idaho and Nevada.
Habitat: Sagebrush or juniper flats to ponderosa pine forests at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Bee-thistle eryngo (Eryngium articulatum)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest along the eastern border of Washington; disjunct in eastern Washington and adjacent Idaho, otherwise southwestern Oregon to California.
Habitat: Low ground along streams and lakes, often where submerged.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest along the eastern border of Washington; disjunct in eastern Washington and adjacent Idaho, otherwise southwestern Oregon to California.
Habitat: Low ground along streams and lakes, often where submerged.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Oregon eryngo (Eryngium petiolatum)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington and in the Columbia River Gorge; southern Washington through the Willamette Valley to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Low ground, especially in places submerged in spring and drying out in summer.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington and in the Columbia River Gorge; southern Washington through the Willamette Valley to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Low ground, especially in places submerged in spring and drying out in summer.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Rush-leaf eryngo (Eryngium petiolatum)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington and in the Columbia River Gorge; southern Washington through the Willamette Valley to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Low ground, especially in places submerged in spring and drying out in summer.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in southwestern Washington and in the Columbia River Gorge; southern Washington through the Willamette Valley to southwestern Oregon.
Habitat: Low ground, especially in places submerged in spring and drying out in summer.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-August
Euclidium (Euclidium syriacum)
Distribution: In scattered locations east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to California, east to Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado; also in Massachusetts.
Habitat: Weed of roadsides and ditch banks.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May-June
Distribution: In scattered locations east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to California, east to Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado; also in Massachusetts.
Habitat: Weed of roadsides and ditch banks.
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia
Flowers: May-June
Booth's evening primrose (Eremothera boothii)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest and in the east end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; eastern Washington to California, east to Idaho, Utah, and Arizona.
Habitat: Sagebrush desert on dry rocky slopes, loose soil, sand or ash, sometimes along roadsides.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest and in the east end of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; eastern Washington to California, east to Idaho, Utah, and Arizona.
Habitat: Sagebrush desert on dry rocky slopes, loose soil, sand or ash, sometimes along roadsides.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Pale evening-primrose (Oenothera pallida)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to Arizona, east to the Rocky Mountains and Texas.
Habitat: Dry, sandy or gravelly soil, commonly on dunes at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to Arizona, east to the Rocky Mountains and Texas.
Habitat: Dry, sandy or gravelly soil, commonly on dunes at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Red-sepal evening-primrose (Oenothera glazioviana)
Distribution: Occasional garden escape west of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California.
Habitat: Disturbed soil.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-September
Distribution: Occasional garden escape west of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia south to California.
Habitat: Disturbed soil.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June-September
California everlasting (Pseudognaphalium californicum)
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern Washington to Baja California, Mexico.
Habitat: Sandy soils, dunes, coastal canyons and chaparral.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; southwestern Washington to Baja California, Mexico.
Habitat: Sandy soils, dunes, coastal canyons and chaparral.
Origin: Native
Flowers: June-July
Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast except for extreme southeastern U.S.
Habitat: Dry to somewhat moist open areas, from low elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Distribution: Widely distributed on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east across most of North America to the Atlantic Coast except for extreme southeastern U.S.
Habitat: Dry to somewhat moist open areas, from low elevations to the subalpine.
Origin: Native
Flowers: July-September
Gray cat's eye (Oreocarya leucophaea)
Distribution: Along the Columbia and lower Yakima rivers, from Wenatchee, Washington to the Dalles, Oregon.
Habitat: Dry, usually sandy places at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Distribution: Along the Columbia and lower Yakima rivers, from Wenatchee, Washington to the Dalles, Oregon.
Habitat: Dry, usually sandy places at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - June
Pinyon desert cat's eye (Cryptantha scoparia)
Distribution: Common on the Snake River plains of Idaho, extending into adjacent Oregon, northeast Nevda and southwest Wyoming; adjunct to Yakima County, Washington, and adjacent counties.
Habitat: Dry, open slopes in the valleys, plains and foothills, common among sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Distribution: Common on the Snake River plains of Idaho, extending into adjacent Oregon, northeast Nevda and southwest Wyoming; adjunct to Yakima County, Washington, and adjacent counties.
Habitat: Dry, open slopes in the valleys, plains and foothills, common among sagebrush.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Snake River cat's eye (Oreocarya spiculifera)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to Oregon and Nevada, east to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Dry, open slopes and flats in the plains, valleys and foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; Washington south to Oregon and Nevada, east to Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah.
Habitat: Dry, open slopes and flats in the plains, valleys and foothills.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Thompson's cat's eye (Oreocarya thompsonii)
Distribution: Serpentine soils in the Wenatchee Mountains and adjacent Cascades of Washington
Habitat: Moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Distribution: Serpentine soils in the Wenatchee Mountains and adjacent Cascades of Washington
Habitat: Moderate to mid-elevations in the mountains
Origin: Native
Flowers: May - July
Torrey's cat's eye (Cryptantha torreyana)
Distribution: Widely distributed east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Montana.
Habitat: Open areas, low to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Distribution: Widely distributed east of the Cascades in Washington; British Columbia to Oregon, east to Montana.
Habitat: Open areas, low to mid-elevations in the mountains.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-July
Watson's cat's eye (Cryptantha watsonii)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Open hillsides, sagebrush-steppe plains, and forest openings at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to California, east to the Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Open hillsides, sagebrush-steppe plains, and forest openings at low to middle elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: May-August
Common eyebright (Euphrasia nemorosa)
Distribution: Introduced chiefly west of the Cascades in Washington.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June - October
Distribution: Introduced chiefly west of the Cascades in Washington.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June - October
Hairy eyebright (Euphrasia nemorosa)
Distribution: Introduced chiefly west of the Cascades in Washington.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June - October
Distribution: Introduced chiefly west of the Cascades in Washington.
Habitat: Disturbed areas.
Origin: Introduced from Europe
Flowers: June - October
Rough eyelashweed (Blepharipappus scaber)
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to California, east to Idaho and northwest Nevada.
Habitat: Grasslands, open slopes, forest edge, sagebrush desert, and other open areas at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades crest in southeastern Washington; southeastern Washington to California, east to Idaho and northwest Nevada.
Habitat: Grasslands, open slopes, forest edge, sagebrush desert, and other open areas at low elevations.
Origin: Native
Flowers: April-June
Baby blue eyes (Nemophila maculata)
Distribution: Known in Washington only as a garden escape in King County; southwestern Oregon to southern California.
Habitat: In our area a garden escape to open areas; in its native range found in meadows, roadbanks, and woodland.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: May-June
Distribution: Known in Washington only as a garden escape in King County; southwestern Oregon to southern California.
Habitat: In our area a garden escape to open areas; in its native range found in meadows, roadbanks, and woodland.
Origin: Introduced
Flowers: May-June
