Washington Wildflower Hikes. Nathan Barnes

bug will want to invest in a few field guides and wildflower identification resources to supplement this book.

      At more advanced levels, wildflower identification can become quite technical, sometimes involving nearly imperceptible variations in obscure parts of the plant best left to botanists and plant experts. This book focuses on the fundamentals of plant identification, which at its most basic level is an exercise in narrowing down the field of possibilities— best done by observing different plant characteristics and zeroing in on the plant that matches your observations. Over time, you will begin to recognize a familiar set of characteristics and be able to observe, for example, “This looks like a type of vetch” or “This is definitely some type of larkspur.” Knowing what to look for is the first step. Consider the following attributes when attempting to identify a wildflower.

       PLANT TYPE

      The vast majority of the flowers in this book are herbaceous plants that grow each spring and summer and die back in the winter. However, some woody shrubs and trees are included as well. There’s even a cactus or two! Knowing whether the plant you’re looking at is woody or not will quickly exclude quite a number of options. As the term implies, woody shrubs and trees are made of wood that splinters when broken. They do not die back to their roots in the winter.

       LEAVES

      It’s tempting to focus first on the flower, but sometimes blooms are damaged, past their prime, or otherwise do not match the photos of ideal specimens in wildflower guides. Instead, start with the leaves.

      Arrangement: There are four basic types of leaf arrangement: alternating, opposite, whorl, and basal. Alternating leaves alternate on the plant stem, whereas opposite leaves grow in pairs opposite each other. Whorls are simply three or more leaves attached at the same point; basal leaves are confined to the base of the plant.

      Type: Leaves can be simple or compound. Simple leaves are composed of one discrete leaf on a stem, while compound leaves have multiple leaves on a single stem. Common examples of these leaf types can be found on balsamroot, which has simple leaves, and lupine, which sports compound leaves.

      Margin: The margin is more or less the edge of the leaf. It’s often helpful in identifying a specific plant. There are quite a few very specific names for leaf margin types that quickly wade into technical waters. Beginners can simply note whether the leaf edge is smooth or toothed and whether it has distinct lobes.

      Color: While most leaves are of course green, there is a surprising amount of variation.

      Whether leaves are pale green, dark green, or tend toward another color should be noted.

      Texture: Note whether the leaves are thick and fleshy or thin and flimsy. Do they have prominent veins, or are they smooth and shiny? It’s also helpful to note whether they are covered in fine hairs. All these qualities can help determine what wildflower you’re looking at.

       FLOWERS

      When first looking at a wildflower, we naturally focus on the color. Successful identification requires more than simply noting the color of the bloom, though the color is an important starting point.

      Color: Most wildflower guides are organized by color for ease of identification. However, keep in mind that many wildflower species vary in color. Blooms can also change color as the flower matures. Avoid the trap of relying too heavily on flower color to narrow down your search. Reds can become pinks; purples can fade to blues. If you think you’ve identified the plant but the flower color is off, you’ve likely got the right plant. Do some further research to see if the plant you think it might be varies in flower color. Quite often you will find it does.

      Size: Bloom size can vary from extremely tiny to several inches across. Knowing how big a flower tends to be can help narrow the list of potential candidates.

      Petals: The number of petals can be important, but only up to about six. Flowers with more than six petals generally do not have a set number of petals, so the exact number is unlikely to be helpful. The shape of the petals can also be helpful, so note whether edges are smooth, lobed, or ragged.

      Stamens and Pistils: Stamens produce the plant’s pollen, while the pistil produces the plant’s seed. There is generally one central pistil that extends beyond multiple stamens, though two major exceptions are members of the pea and sunflower families, which do not follow this general guideline. Noting the number, shape, and prominence of these structures is sometimes helpful in the identification process.

      Sepals and Tepals: The sepal is the generally greenish portion of the flower that supports the petals. It is occasionally colorful, as anyone who has ever hiked past a flowering paintbrush has observed. Tepal is just another name for both petals and sepals. While these flower parts are nearly too much detail for this book, a few featured wildflowers are identified by these characteristics. In most cases for our purposes, being able to discern sepals and tepals is not necessary to identify a wildflower.

       ENVIRONMENT

      Where you find a flower is also an important consideration. Different wildflowers prefer different soils and environments, so note where the flower is growing.

      Elevation: This value need not be exact. But generally knowing whether you’re in a lowland forest, on a forested mountainside, or in an alpine meadow will help narrow the possibilities.

      Soil Moisture: Essentially, you’ll want to note whether the flower is clinging to a streamside or is eking out an existence in the arid scrublands. Rocky, dry soil conditions are home to different wildflowers than snowmelt-soaked mountain meadows.

      Location: The specific geographic location where you’ve come across a wildflower can also be helpful in identifying a particular plant. Like all living things, wildflowers are commonly found within a defined range, which can sometimes aid you in identification.

       CLIMATE

      Similar to the wildflower’s environment, knowing the general climate the wildflower is found in can quickly point you in the right direction. Broadly speaking, there are four distinct wildflower climates in Washington.

      Coastal: Wildflowers in this environment thrive in moist but sandy soils at low elevation. They are often in more exposed environments and are therefore lower to the ground and tend to rely more often on wind pollination.

      Subalpine Forest: The most common wildflower climate in Washington is the subalpine forest, which for purposes of this book encompasses all forests up to the alpine tree line. Wildflowers in this environment enjoy soils that are generally moister and benefit from the sheltering trees. Flowers tend to be vibrant as they attract a variety of insects and other pollinators.

      Alpine: Climates above the tree line, the elevation above which trees do not grow, are prone to increased exposure to wind, and snows linger long. Wildflowers in this zone grow low to the ground and thrive in thin, rocky soils. With access to fewer pollinators, blooms tend to be less vibrant than flowers at lower elevations.

      Scrubland: Much of the eastern portion of the state is essentially scrubland or desert prairie. Harsh winters and hot summers sweep through this region annually, so wildflowers in this habitat are built to withstand more extreme swings in temperature and are drought resistant. Blooms vary widely, with some wildflowers putting on brilliant floral displays, while others prefer a more sedate presentation. These flowers depend on a wide range of pollinators, from bees to