Page authors: Don Knoke, David Giblin
Oreocarya leucophaea
gray oreocarya
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring east of the Cascades in central and south-central Washington, where endemic.

Habitat: Dry, usually sandy places at low elevations.

Flowers: May-June

Origin: Native

Growth Duration: Biennial, Perennial

Conservation Status: Threatened in Washington (WANHP)

Pollination: Bees, flies

Description:
General:

Perennial with clustered stems, 1.5-4 dm. tall, the herbage silky below, becoming bristly upward.

Leaves:

Basal leaves petiolate, narrow and elongate, all tapering to a pointed tip, 5-10 cm. long and 3-6 mm. wide; the cauline leaves becoming sessile and up to 1 cm. wide.

Flowers:

Inflorescence an elongate, bracteate spike; calyx divided to the base; corolla tube exceeding the calyx, the 5 limbs white, 5-9 mm. wide; style strongly surpassing the nutlets.

Fruits:

Nutlets 4, gray, smooth and shining, 4 mm. long, sharp-edged, attached to the style.

Accepted Name:
Oreocarya leucophaea (Douglas ex Lehm.) Greene
Publication: Pittonia 1(2): 58. 1887.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Cryptantha leucophaea (Douglas ex Lehm.) Payson [HC, HC2]
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Oreocarya leucophaea in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.

WA Flora Checklist: Oreocarya leucophaea checklist entry.

OregonFlora: Oreocarya leucophaea information.

E-Flora BC: Oreocarya leucophaea atlas page.

CalPhotos: Oreocarya leucophaea photos.

USDA Plants: Oreocarya leucophaea information.

20 photographs:
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