Via Flickr:
Not quite a villain compared to other nonnative species like cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) or ventenata (Ventenata dubius), but this beautiful vetch (Vicia villosa) can be quite aggressive in disturbed areas of the Palouse.
Via Flickr:
The Pondersoa pine/Idaho fescue (Pinus ponderosa/Festuca idahoensis) savanna dominates the ridgeline of Kamiak Butte.
Via Flickr:
Tucked away in a ravine along the north slope of Kamiak Butte is a moist forest community where this sword fern (Polystichum munitum) was found growing.
Via Flickr:
Pataha Bunchgrass Research Natural Area, located on Umatilla National Forest, was established in 1968 to protect an excellent example of lower montane grasslands.
Via Flickr:
Pataha Bunchgrass Research Natural Area, located on Umatilla National Forest, was established in 1968 to protect an excellent example of lower montane grasslands. This grassland is dominated by Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegeneria spicata).
Via Flickr:
The Palouse region of southeast Washington and western Idaho. View is from Steptoe Butte.
Via Flickr:
I didn't stop to key this one out, so I'm not sure if this is a weird color variation of Thompson's Indian paintbrush (Castilleja thompsonii) or some other species.
UPDATE: Thanks to Mark Egger for pointing out that this species is actually Castilleja cusickii.
Via Flickr:
Native prairie vegetation still covers much of Steptoe Butte. In the foreground is a nice example of what the Palouse prairie once looked like before our forebears converted it to agricultural fields.
Via Flickr:
Native prairie vegetation still covers much of Steptoe Butte. In the foreground is a nice example of what the Palouse prairie once looked like before our forebears converted it to agriculture fields.
Via Flickr:
North slope of Kaholotus Ridgetop is dominated by Idahoe fescue (Festuca idahoensis). Kahlotus Ridgetop Natural Area Preserve is managed by the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources (Natural Areas Program) to protect the best remaining example of 'dry' Palouse prairie.
Via Flickr:
Calochortus macrocarpus is found sporadically throughout the Palouse prairie and other grasslands and shrub steppe habitats in eastern Washington.
Via Flickr:
The canyon grasslands of the Snake River canyon and its immediate tributaries differ from the Palouse prairie by being drier and having less species diversity.
Via Flickr:
Although most of western Washington is covered with thick, dense forests, non-forested vegetation is occassionaly encountered in places like wetlands, prairies and rock outcrops like these, which are locally called "balds".
Via Flickr:
This beautiful grass is one of the few remaining native species that has been able to withstand farming and grazing impacts which have eliminated most of the native species from the grasslands at American Camp (San Juan National Historical Park).
Via Flickr:
This coastal bluff had few remaining native species (due to past heavy grazing), but its beauty against the backdrop of the Straits of Juan de Fuca remains intact.
Via Flickr:
Late evening light through the canopy of an Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana) woodland. Located at English Camp (Young Hill) at San Juan Island National Historical Park.
Via Flickr:
This little plant in the lily family is quite common in our grasslands here in western Washington.
