Rare Plant Field Guide
This online guide is an adaptation of our Field Guide to the Rare Plants of Washington, which was published in 2011 with the intent to aid amateur and professional botanists in the identification of our state's rare plant species. With the inclusion of descriptions from an earlier version of the guide, this online source now includes 341 vascular plants, 16 mosses and one lichen. Each treatment includes information on identification, phenology, range, habitat, ecology, state status, inventory needs, threats, and references. Species and habitat photos, line drawings and distribution maps are also included. An Android version is available for mobile applications.
The printed version of the guide is the culmination of a cooperative venture between the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' Natural Heritage Program (WNHP), the Spokane District of the U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Washington Native Plant Society, the University of Washington Herbarium at Burke Museum, and the University of Washington Press. Funding for this online version was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
To find a species, click on the first letter of its scientific name, then select the species name from the list.
A
Abronia umbellata var. acutalata
Agoseris aurantiaca var. carnea
Agoseris elata
Agrostis mertensii
Aliciella leptomeria
Allium bisceptrum
Allium campanulatum
Allium constrictum
Allium dictuon
Ammannia robusta
Anemone patens var. multifida
Antennaria corymbosa
Anthoxanthum hirtum
Arabis crucisetosa
Arenaria paludicola
Artemisia campestris var. wormskioldii
Asclepias cryptoceras
Astragalus arrectus
Astragalus arthurii
Astragalus asotinensis
Astragalus australis var. cottonii
Astragalus columbianus
Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii
Astragalus diaphanus
Astragalus geyeri var. geyeri
Astragalus kentrophyta var. douglasii
Astragalus microcystis
Astragalus misellus var. pauper
Astragalus multiflorus
Astragalus pulsiferae var. suksdorfii
Astragalus riparius
Astragalus sinuatus
Agoseris aurantiaca var. carnea
Agoseris elata
Agrostis mertensii
Aliciella leptomeria
Allium bisceptrum
Allium campanulatum
Allium constrictum
Allium dictuon
Ammannia robusta
Anemone patens var. multifida
Antennaria corymbosa
Anthoxanthum hirtum
Arabis crucisetosa
Arenaria paludicola
Artemisia campestris var. wormskioldii
Asclepias cryptoceras
Astragalus arrectus
Astragalus arthurii
Astragalus asotinensis
Astragalus australis var. cottonii
Astragalus columbianus
Astragalus cusickii var. cusickii
Astragalus diaphanus
Astragalus geyeri var. geyeri
Astragalus kentrophyta var. douglasii
Astragalus microcystis
Astragalus misellus var. pauper
Astragalus multiflorus
Astragalus pulsiferae var. suksdorfii
Astragalus riparius
Astragalus sinuatus
B
Baccharis pilularis ssp. consanguinea
Bartramiopsis lescurii
Bergia texana
Bolandra oregana
Boschniakia hookeri
Botrychium ascendens
Botrychium crenulatum
Botrychium hesperium
Botrychium lineare
Botrychium paradoxum
Botrychium pedunculosum
Brotherella roellii
Buxbaumia viridis
Bartramiopsis lescurii
Bergia texana
Bolandra oregana
Boschniakia hookeri
Botrychium ascendens
Botrychium crenulatum
Botrychium hesperium
Botrychium lineare
Botrychium paradoxum
Botrychium pedunculosum
Brotherella roellii
Buxbaumia viridis
C
Calochortus longebarbatus var. longebarbatus
Calochortus macrocarpus var. maculosus
Calochortus nitidus
Campanula lasiocarpa
Carex anthoxanthea
Carex capillaris
Carex chordorrhiza
Carex circinata
Carex comosa
Carex densa
Carex flava
Carex gynocrates
Carex heteroneura var. epapillosa
Carex macrochaeta
Carex magellanica ssp. irrigua
Carex media
Carex obtusata
Carex pallescens
Carex pauciflora
Carex pluriflora
Carex praeceptorum
Carex proposita
Carex rostrata
Carex scirpoidea ssp. scirpoidea
Carex stylosa
Carex sychnocephala
Carex tenera var. tenera
Carex tenuiflora
Carex vallicola
Cassiope lycopodioides
Castilleja cryptantha
Castilleja levisecta
Castilleja victoriae
Chaenactis thompsonii
Cheilanthes feei
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. chrysophylla
Chrysosplenium tetrandrum
Chylismia scapoidea ssp. scapoidea
Cicuta bulbifera
Cimicifuga elata
Cistanthe rosea
Claytonia multiscapa ssp. pacifica
Cochlearia groenlandica
Coeloglossum viride
Collinsia sparsiflora var. bruceae
Collomia macrocalyx
Comastoma tenellum
Coptis aspleniifolia
Coptis trifolia
Corispermum pallidum
Corydalis aquae-gelidae
Crassula connata
Crataegus phippsii
Crepis bakeri ssp. idahoensis
Crumia latifolia
Cryptantha gracilis
Cryptantha leucophaea
Cryptantha rostellata
Cryptantha scoparia
Cryptantha spiculifera
Cryptogramma stelleri
Cuscuta denticulata
Cusickiella douglasii
Cypripedium parviflorum
Calochortus macrocarpus var. maculosus
Calochortus nitidus
Campanula lasiocarpa
Carex anthoxanthea
Carex capillaris
Carex chordorrhiza
Carex circinata
Carex comosa
Carex densa
Carex flava
Carex gynocrates
Carex heteroneura var. epapillosa
Carex macrochaeta
Carex magellanica ssp. irrigua
Carex media
Carex obtusata
Carex pallescens
Carex pauciflora
Carex pluriflora
Carex praeceptorum
Carex proposita
Carex rostrata
Carex scirpoidea ssp. scirpoidea
Carex stylosa
Carex sychnocephala
Carex tenera var. tenera
Carex tenuiflora
Carex vallicola
Cassiope lycopodioides
Castilleja cryptantha
Castilleja levisecta
Castilleja victoriae
Chaenactis thompsonii
Cheilanthes feei
Chrysolepis chrysophylla var. chrysophylla
Chrysosplenium tetrandrum
Chylismia scapoidea ssp. scapoidea
Cicuta bulbifera
Cimicifuga elata
Cistanthe rosea
Claytonia multiscapa ssp. pacifica
Cochlearia groenlandica
Coeloglossum viride
Collinsia sparsiflora var. bruceae
Collomia macrocalyx
Comastoma tenellum
Coptis aspleniifolia
Coptis trifolia
Corispermum pallidum
Corydalis aquae-gelidae
Crassula connata
Crataegus phippsii
Crepis bakeri ssp. idahoensis
Crumia latifolia
Cryptantha gracilis
Cryptantha leucophaea
Cryptantha rostellata
Cryptantha scoparia
Cryptantha spiculifera
Cryptogramma stelleri
Cuscuta denticulata
Cusickiella douglasii
Cypripedium parviflorum
D
Damasonium californicum
Delphinium leucophaeum
Delphinium viridescens
Diplacus clivicola
Diplacus cusickii
Discelium nudum
Dodecatheon austrofrigidum
Draba aurea
Draba cana
Draba juvenilis
Dryas drummondii var. drummondii
Dryopteris cristata
Delphinium leucophaeum
Delphinium viridescens
Diplacus clivicola
Diplacus cusickii
Discelium nudum
Dodecatheon austrofrigidum
Draba aurea
Draba cana
Draba juvenilis
Dryas drummondii var. drummondii
Dryopteris cristata
E
Eatonella nivea
Eleocharis atropurpurea
Eleocharis rostellata
Encalypta brevicollis
Eremothera minor
Eremothera pygmaea
Erigeron aliceae
Erigeron basalticus
Erigeron elatus
Erigeron howellii
Erigeron oreganus
Erigeron peregrinus var. thompsonii
Erigeron piperianus
Erigeron salishii
Eriogonum codium
Eriogonum maculatum
Eriophorum viridicarinatum
Eritrichium nanum var. elongatum
Eryngium articulatum
Eryngium petiolatum
Erythranthe jungermannioides
Erythranthe patula
Erythranthe pulsiferae
Erythranthe suksdorfii
Erythranthe washingtonensis
Erythronium quinaultense
Erythronium revolutum
Euonymus occidentalis var. occidentalis
Eurybia merita
Eutrochium maculatum var. bruneri
Eleocharis atropurpurea
Eleocharis rostellata
Encalypta brevicollis
Eremothera minor
Eremothera pygmaea
Erigeron aliceae
Erigeron basalticus
Erigeron elatus
Erigeron howellii
Erigeron oreganus
Erigeron peregrinus var. thompsonii
Erigeron piperianus
Erigeron salishii
Eriogonum codium
Eriogonum maculatum
Eriophorum viridicarinatum
Eritrichium nanum var. elongatum
Eryngium articulatum
Eryngium petiolatum
Erythranthe jungermannioides
Erythranthe patula
Erythranthe pulsiferae
Erythranthe suksdorfii
Erythranthe washingtonensis
Erythronium quinaultense
Erythronium revolutum
Euonymus occidentalis var. occidentalis
Eurybia merita
Eutrochium maculatum var. bruneri
F
G
Gaultheria hispidula
Gentiana douglasiana
Gentiana glauca
Geranium oreganum
Geum rivale
Geum rossii var. depressum
Githopsis specularioides
Gentiana douglasiana
Gentiana glauca
Geranium oreganum
Geum rivale
Geum rossii var. depressum
Githopsis specularioides
H
Hackelia cinerea
Hackelia diffusa var. diffusa
Hackelia hispida var. disjuncta
Hackelia hispida var. hispida
Hackelia sp. 2
Hackelia venusta
Hedysarum occidentale var. occidentale
Heterotheca oregona
Heuchera grossulariifolia var. tenuifolia
Howellia aquatilis
Hypericum majus
Hackelia diffusa var. diffusa
Hackelia hispida var. disjuncta
Hackelia hispida var. hispida
Hackelia sp. 2
Hackelia venusta
Hedysarum occidentale var. occidentale
Heterotheca oregona
Heuchera grossulariifolia var. tenuifolia
Howellia aquatilis
Hypericum majus
I
Iliamna longisepala
Impatiens noli-tangere
Isoetes minima
Isoetes nuttallii
Iwatsukiella leucotricha
Impatiens noli-tangere
Isoetes minima
Isoetes nuttallii
Iwatsukiella leucotricha
J
K
L
Lasthenia glaberrima
Lathyrus holochlorus
Lathyrus torreyi
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus
Lepidium oxycarpum
Leptosiphon bolanderi
Liparis loeselii
Lipocarpha aristulata
Lobelia dortmanna
Lobelia kalmii
Loeflingia squarrosa
Lomatium bradshawii
Lomatium laevigatum
Lomatium rollinsii
Lomatium sandbergii
Lomatium serpentinum
Lomatium suksdorfii
Lomatium tuberosum
Lupinus oreganus
Lupinus sabinianus
Luzula arcuata ssp. unalaschkensis
Lycopodiella inundata
Lycopodium dendroideum
Lathyrus holochlorus
Lathyrus torreyi
Lathyrus vestitus var. ochropetalus
Lepidium oxycarpum
Leptosiphon bolanderi
Liparis loeselii
Lipocarpha aristulata
Lobelia dortmanna
Lobelia kalmii
Loeflingia squarrosa
Lomatium bradshawii
Lomatium laevigatum
Lomatium rollinsii
Lomatium sandbergii
Lomatium serpentinum
Lomatium suksdorfii
Lomatium tuberosum
Lupinus oreganus
Lupinus sabinianus
Luzula arcuata ssp. unalaschkensis
Lycopodiella inundata
Lycopodium dendroideum
M
Meconella oregana
Meesia uliginosa
Micromonolepis pusilla
Microseris bigelovii
Microseris borealis
Minuartia nuttallii var. fragilis
Minuartia pusilla
Montia diffusa
Muhlenbergia glomerata
Myosurus clavicaulis
Myriophyllum ussuriense
Myurella julacea
Meesia uliginosa
Micromonolepis pusilla
Microseris bigelovii
Microseris borealis
Minuartia nuttallii var. fragilis
Minuartia pusilla
Montia diffusa
Muhlenbergia glomerata
Myosurus clavicaulis
Myriophyllum ussuriense
Myurella julacea
N
O
Oenothera cespitosa ssp. cespitosa
Oenothera cespitosa ssp. marginata
Oenothera flava ssp. flava
Ophioglossum pusillum
Orobanche californica ssp. grayana
Orthocarpus bracteosus
Orthotrichum praemorsum
Oxalis suksdorfii
Oxytropis borealis var. viscida
Oxytropis campestris var. columbiana
Oxytropis campestris var. gracilis
Oxytropis campestris var. wanapum
Oenothera cespitosa ssp. marginata
Oenothera flava ssp. flava
Ophioglossum pusillum
Orobanche californica ssp. grayana
Orthocarpus bracteosus
Orthotrichum praemorsum
Oxalis suksdorfii
Oxytropis borealis var. viscida
Oxytropis campestris var. columbiana
Oxytropis campestris var. gracilis
Oxytropis campestris var. wanapum
P
Packera porteri
Parnassia fimbriata var. hoodiana
Parnassia kotzebuei
Parnassia palustris var. neogaea
Pedicularis rainierensis
Pediocactus nigrispinus
Pellaea brachyptera
Pellaea breweri
Penstemon barrettiae
Penstemon deustus var. variabilis
Penstemon eriantherus var. whitedii
Penstemon wilcoxii
Perideridia oregana
Petrophytum caespitosum ssp. caespitosum
Petrophytum cinerascens
Phacelia lenta
Phacelia minutissima
Phacelia tetramera
Physaria didymocarpa ssp. didymocarpa
Physaria douglasii ssp. tuplashensis
Pilularia americana
Pityopus californicus
Plantago macrocarpa
Platanthera chorisiana
Platanthera obtusata ssp. obtusata
Poa laxiflora
Poa nervosa
Poa unilateralis ssp. pachypholis
Polemonium carneum
Polemonium pectinatum
Polemonium viscosum
Polyctenium fremontii
Polygonum austiniae
Polygonum parryi
Polystichum californicum
Potamogeton foliosus ssp. fibrillosus
Potamogeton obtusifolius
Potentilla breweri
Potentilla glaucophylla var. perdissecta
Potentilla jepsonii
Potentilla newberryi
Potentilla nivea
Pyrrocoma hirta var. sonchifolia
Pyrrocoma liatriformis
Parnassia fimbriata var. hoodiana
Parnassia kotzebuei
Parnassia palustris var. neogaea
Pedicularis rainierensis
Pediocactus nigrispinus
Pellaea brachyptera
Pellaea breweri
Penstemon barrettiae
Penstemon deustus var. variabilis
Penstemon eriantherus var. whitedii
Penstemon wilcoxii
Perideridia oregana
Petrophytum caespitosum ssp. caespitosum
Petrophytum cinerascens
Phacelia lenta
Phacelia minutissima
Phacelia tetramera
Physaria didymocarpa ssp. didymocarpa
Physaria douglasii ssp. tuplashensis
Pilularia americana
Pityopus californicus
Plantago macrocarpa
Platanthera chorisiana
Platanthera obtusata ssp. obtusata
Poa laxiflora
Poa nervosa
Poa unilateralis ssp. pachypholis
Polemonium carneum
Polemonium pectinatum
Polemonium viscosum
Polyctenium fremontii
Polygonum austiniae
Polygonum parryi
Polystichum californicum
Potamogeton foliosus ssp. fibrillosus
Potamogeton obtusifolius
Potentilla breweri
Potentilla glaucophylla var. perdissecta
Potentilla jepsonii
Potentilla newberryi
Potentilla nivea
Pyrrocoma hirta var. sonchifolia
Pyrrocoma liatriformis
R
Ranunculus californicus var. californicus
Ranunculus cooleyae
Ranunculus hebecarpus
Ranunculus populago
Ranunculus triternatus
Rhytidium rugosum
Ribes cereum var. colubrinum
Ribes oxyacanthoides var. irriguum
Rorippa columbiae
Rotala ramosior
Rubus arcticus ssp. acaulis
Rubus nigerrimus
Ranunculus cooleyae
Ranunculus hebecarpus
Ranunculus populago
Ranunculus triternatus
Rhytidium rugosum
Ribes cereum var. colubrinum
Ribes oxyacanthoides var. irriguum
Rorippa columbiae
Rotala ramosior
Rubus arcticus ssp. acaulis
Rubus nigerrimus
S
Salix candida
Salix glauca var. villosa
Salix maccalliana
Salix pseudomonticola
Salix sessilifolia
Salix tweedyi
Salix vestita
Samolus parviflorus
Sandbergia perplexa
Sanguisorba menziesii
Sanicula arctopoides
Sanicula marilandica
Saxifraga cernua
Saxifraga hyperborea
Saxifraga tischii
Saxifragopsis fragarioides
Schistostega pennata
Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium
Schoenoplectus saximontanus
Sclerolinon digynum
Scouleria marginata
Scribneria bolanderi
Scutellaria angustifolia ssp. micrantha
Sericocarpus oregonensis ssp. oregonensis
Sericocarpus rigidus
Sidalcea hirtipes
Sidalcea nelsoniana
Sidalcea oregana var. calva
Sidalcea virgata
Silene sargentii
Silene seelyi
Silene spaldingii
Sisyrinchium montanum var. montanum
Sisyrinchium sarmentosum
Sisyrinchium septentrionale
Sparganium fluctuans
Spartina pectinata
Spiranthes diluvialis
Spiranthes porrifolia
Stuckenia filiformis ssp. occidentalis
Subularia aquatica var. americana
Sullivantia oregana
Swertia perennis
Symphyotrichum boreale
Symphyotrichum hallii
Symphyotrichum jessicae
Synthyris pinnatifida var. lanuginosa
Salix glauca var. villosa
Salix maccalliana
Salix pseudomonticola
Salix sessilifolia
Salix tweedyi
Salix vestita
Samolus parviflorus
Sandbergia perplexa
Sanguisorba menziesii
Sanicula arctopoides
Sanicula marilandica
Saxifraga cernua
Saxifraga hyperborea
Saxifraga tischii
Saxifragopsis fragarioides
Schistostega pennata
Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium
Schoenoplectus saximontanus
Sclerolinon digynum
Scouleria marginata
Scribneria bolanderi
Scutellaria angustifolia ssp. micrantha
Sericocarpus oregonensis ssp. oregonensis
Sericocarpus rigidus
Sidalcea hirtipes
Sidalcea nelsoniana
Sidalcea oregana var. calva
Sidalcea virgata
Silene sargentii
Silene seelyi
Silene spaldingii
Sisyrinchium montanum var. montanum
Sisyrinchium sarmentosum
Sisyrinchium septentrionale
Sparganium fluctuans
Spartina pectinata
Spiranthes diluvialis
Spiranthes porrifolia
Stuckenia filiformis ssp. occidentalis
Subularia aquatica var. americana
Sullivantia oregana
Swertia perennis
Symphyotrichum boreale
Symphyotrichum hallii
Symphyotrichum jessicae
Synthyris pinnatifida var. lanuginosa
T
Tauschia hooveri
Tauschia tenuissima
Tayloria serrata
Tetraphis geniculata
Tetraplodon mnioides
Texosporium sancti-jacobi
Thelypodium howellii ssp. howellii
Thelypodium sagittatum ssp. sagittatum
Trichostema oblongum
Trifolium douglasii
Trifolium plumosum var. plumosum
Trifolium thompsonii
Trillium parviflorum
Tauschia tenuissima
Tayloria serrata
Tetraphis geniculata
Tetraplodon mnioides
Texosporium sancti-jacobi
Thelypodium howellii ssp. howellii
Thelypodium sagittatum ssp. sagittatum
Trichostema oblongum
Trifolium douglasii
Trifolium plumosum var. plumosum
Trifolium thompsonii
Trillium parviflorum