Lomatium sp. of the Columbia River Gorge Spring 2023
Found a few Lomatium sp. blooming in the Columbia River Gorge over the past month that I wanted to highlight / share. These six species belong to the Apiaceae family and were growing in similar habitats (thin-rocky basalt substrate), but the differences between each species varied tremendously. The selection pressures of the Columbia River Gorge produce so many unique species that vary in size, color, bloom time, growth pattern, and texture due to the changes in elevation, geology, wind, and precipitation patterns.
The first plant, L. columbianum, is an endemic plant to OR and WA and is one of the most eye-catching and robust of the six. I found it growing out of a basalt seep on a vertical cliff, with purple flowers and glaucus leaves.
The second, L. gormanii, is endemic to OR, WA, and ID and is small as a finger nail. The petals are white and the anthers are maroon-red. They are commonly referred to as salt and pepper flowers and like other members of this genus, its leaves highly divided and carrot-like.
The third species, L. klickitatense, is probably the most recognizable with its yellow inflorescence, highly divided leaves, and umbel flowers. It also has a narrow distribution between WA and OR. All three have umbel flowers, a deep taproot to secure itself in rocky, windy soils, and have highly divided leaves that die back and emerge in the spring.
The fourth species, L. canbyi is a low growing, prostrate species of Lomatium that grows between northern California and Oregon in thin soils, exposed areas, and sage scrub habitat. This specimen was found at a much higher elevation than the others on Dalles Mountain.
The fifth lomatium, L. laevigatum grows on basalt cliffs and thin soils in south central Washington and Oregon in the Columbia gorge, east of the cascades. It is endemic to this region and is a threatened species in WA.
The last species, and probably the most widespread is L. nudicaule. This plant grows in several types of habitat between B.C and California and Utah. It grows in Oak/Pine woodlands but also in exposed sage scrub habitat as well. The leaves of this plant vary much from the others listed above with their dull waxy, lance shaped leaf shape.
All of these plants fulfill their own ecological niche and are unique for one reason or another (whether that be climate, herbivore selection, gene flow, pollination etc.) There are so many pieces of the ecological puzzle to put together to understand why things are the way they are - it’s always fun to think about how the environment shapes pretty much everything. Evolution is so weird/cool/constantly changing and moments like this really put things into perspective for me. I found all of these near White Salmon, WA by the Klickikat river, and they reminded me that spring is here!
