Calyptridium Umbellatum, Mt Hood Mock Pussypaws
Plants > Wildflowers > Montiaceae > Calyptridium Umbellatum
Calyptridium umbellatum is quite a distinctive species; plants produce one or more small, basal rosettes of spatula-shaped leaves from which rise a single, purplish, leafless stem, topped by a dense, spherical cluster of several dozen pinkish-purple flowers. Leaves are usually around 2 inches long but can be up to 5 inches. Stems are leaning. Leaves and stems are hairless.
The small flowers have two round, white or pale pink sepals, four oblong petals, three stamens with yellow or red anthers, and a thread-like style with two stigmas. The petals and sepals are approximately equal in length. The flower cluster is between 2 and 3 inches in diameter.
Common name:
Mt hood mock pussypaws
Family:
Scientific name:
Calyptridium umbellatum
Synonym:
Cistanthe umbellata
Main flower color:
Range:
The Pacific states, the Great Basin and the northern Rocky Mountains
Height:
Up to 2 feet
Habitat:
Gravelly or sandy places, between 5,000 and 14,000 feet
Leaves:
Thick, fleshy, spatulate, usually up to 2.5 inches long
Season:
May to October
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