Field Guide to Forest Plants of Northern Idaho

Key to ferns and friends Corallorhiza conspectus
United States
Department of
Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain
Research Station
Ft. Collins, CO

General Technical Report
RMRS-GTR-118-CD

February 2004

Authors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Species description format
Trees
Shrubs
Ferns & Friends
Forbs
Graminoids
Descriptive drawings
Collecting and
   pressing methods
Glossary
References



Forb characteristics

Species Persistence
Life cycle
Size Leaf Flower Fruit Comment
Arrangement
Type
Color
Inflorescence
# Shape Color
Type
NONGREEN
Corallorhiza spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Alternate
Bracts
Red / yellow
Raceme
3 Orchid Red / yellow
Capsule
parasitic
Pterospora andromedea Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Bracts
Yellow
Raceme
5 Urn-shaped Red brown
Capsule
parasitic
GREEN
   Whorled    Evergreen
Cornus canadensis Evergreen
Perennial
S-M Whorled
Simple entire
White
Cluster
4 Regular Red
Drupe
 
Trientalis latifolia Evergreen
Perennial
S-M Whorled
Simple entire
Pink
Single
6/7 Regular -
Capsule
uncommon
   Whorled    Deciduous
Frasera fastigiata Deciduous
Perennial
XL Whorled
Simple entire
Blue
Panicle
4 Regular -
Capsule
 
Galium spp. Deciduous
Per. - ann.
M Whorled
Simple entire
White
Panicle
4 Tubular -
Capsule
square stem
Trillium ovatum Deciduous
Perennial
S-M Whorled
Simple entire
White
Single
3 Regular Yellow
Berry
 
   Basal    Evergreen    Compound leaves
Coptis occidentalis Evergreen
Perennial
S Basal
Entire trifoliate
White
Head
5 Regular -
Follicle
golden root
   Basal    Evergreen    Simple leaves
Asarum caudatum Evergreen
Perennial
S Alternate (basal)
Simple cordate
Maroon
Single
3 Irregular -
Capsule
ginger odor
Goodyera oblongifolia Evergreen
Perennial
S Basal
Simple entire
White - green
Spike
3 Orchid Green
Capsule
white mottled leaves
Heuchera cylindrica Evergreen
Perennial
S-XL Basal
Simple palmate toothed
White - green yellow
Panicle
5 Bell-shaped -
Capsule
 
Pyrola asarifolia Evergreen
Perennial
S-L Basal
Simple entire
Pink - Purple red
Raceme
5 Irregular -
Capsule
 
Synthyris spp. Evergreen (deciduous)
Perennial
S-L Basal
Simple cordate
Blue violet / blue purple
Raceme
4 Bilabiate -
Capsule
 
Viola orbiculata Evergreen
Perennial
S Basal
Simple cordate
Yellow
Single
5 Regular -
Capsule
 
Xerophyllum tenax Evergreen
Perennial
L-XL Basal
Simple linear toothed
White
Raceme
3 Regular -
Capsule
 
   Basal    Deciduous    Compound leaves
Anemone piperi Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Basal (whorled)
Compound trifoliate toothed
White
Single
5-6 Regular -
Achene
 
Fragaria spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M Basal
Compound trifoliate toothed
White
Cluster
5 Regular Red
Berry
strawberry
Ligusticum spp. Evergreen
Perennial
L-XL Basal (alternate)
Pinnate
White / pink
Umbel
5 Regular -
Schizocarp
 
Lomatium spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Basal (alternate)
Compound pinnate toothed
Yellow / white / pink
Umbel
5 Regular -
Schizocarp
 
   Basal    Deciduous    Simple leaves
Balsamorhiza sagittata Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Basal
Simple arrowhead
Yellow
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Calypso bulbosa Deciduous
Perennial
S-M Basal
Simple entire
Purple
Single
3 Orchid -
Capsule
 
Clintonia uniflora Deciduous
Perennial
S Basal
Simple entire
White
Single
3 Regular Blue
Berry
 hairy leaves
Dodecatheon jeffreyi Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Basal
Simple entire
Purple
Umbel
4-5 Regular -
Capsule
unique flowers
Erythronium grandiflorum Deciduous
Perennial
S-M Basal
Simple entire
Yellow
Raceme
3 Regular Green
Capsule
bald leaves
Habenaria spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Basal
Simple entire
White / green / yellow green
Raceme
3 Orchid -
Capsule
 
Hieracium spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S-XL Basal (alternate)
Simple entire
Yellow / white
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
hairy leaves
Mitella spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Basal
Simple cordate toothed
Green / white
Raceme
5 Regular -
Capsule
 
Trautvetteria caroliniensis Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Basal (alternate)
Simple palmate toothed lobed
White / green
Cluster
4 Regular -
Achene
riparian
   Opposite    Deciduous    Compound leaves
Valeriana sitchensis Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Opposite
Compound pinnate toothed
White
Cluster
5 Tubular -
Achene
 
   Opposite    Deciduous    Simple leaves
Apocynum androsaemifolium Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Opposite
Simple entire
Pink
Cyme
5 Bell-shaped -
Follicle
milky sap
Arenaria macrophylla Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Opposite
Simple entire
White
Cyme
5 Regular -
Capsule
 
Arnica cordifolia Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Opposite
Simple cordate toothed
Yellow
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Arnica latifolia Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Opposite
Simple entire (toothed)
Yellow
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Circaea alpina Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Opposite
Simple toothed (entire)
White
Raceme
2 Regular -
Capsule
 
Geranium viscosissimum Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Opposite
Simple palmate toothed
Purple
Cyme single
5 Regular -
Capsule
sticky plant
Hypericum perforatum Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Opposite
Simple entire
Yellow
Cyme
5 Regular -
Capsule
holey leaves
Listera spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S-M Opposite
Simple entire
Green
Raceme
3 Orchid Green
Capsule
 
Montia spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S Opposite (basal)
Simple entire cordate
White
Raceme
5 Regular Black
Capsule
 
Prunella vulgaris Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Opposite (basal)
Simple entire
Purple
Spike
5 Bilabiate -
Achene
square stems
Silene menziesii Deciduous
Perennial
S-M Opposite
Simple entire
White
Cyme
5 Tubular -
Schizocarp
 
   Alternate    Evergreen
Pyrola secunda Evergreen
Perennial
S Alternate
Simple toothed
White
Raceme
5 Irregular -
Capsule
one-sided raceme
Sedum stenopetalum Evergreen
Perennial
S-M Alternate
Simple linear
Yellow
Cyme
5 Regular -
Follicle
succulent
   Alternate    Deciduous    Compound leaves
Actaea rubra Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Compound lobed toothed
White
Cluster
5 Regular Red
Berry
poisonous berries
Angelica arguta Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Compound pinnate toothed
White
Umbel
5 Irregular -
Schizocarp
 
Aquilegia spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate (basal)
Compound lobed trifoliate
Yellow / red
Single
5 Irregular -
Follicle
unique flowers
Aralia nudicaulis Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Alternate
Compound pinnate toothed
Green
Umbel
5 Regular Pink
Berry
north of Cd'A
Heracleum lanatum Deciduous
Perennial
XL Alternate
Compound palmate toothed
White
Umbel
5 Irregular -
Schizocarp
 
Lathyrus nevadensis Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Compound pinnate
White
Raceme
5 Pea-flower -
Pod
unbranched tendrils
Ligusticum spp. Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Alternate (basal)
Compound pinnate
White / pink
Umbel
5 Regular -
Schizocarp
 
Osmorhiza chilensis Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Alternate
Compound lobed toothed trifoliate
Green - white
Umbel
5 Regular Black
Schizocarp
 
Polemonium pulcherrimum Deciduous
Perennial
L Alternate (basal)
Compound
Blue
Cluster
5 Bell-shaped -
Capsule
skunk-like odor
Potentilla spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate (basal)
Compound pinnate digitate toothed
Yellow
Cluster
5 Regular Green
Achene
 
Thalictrum occidentale Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Alternate
Compound lobed
Greenish white - purple
Panicle
4-5 Irregular Green purple
Achene
dioecious
Thermopsis montana Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Alternate
Compound trifoliate
Yellow
Raceme
5 Pea-flower -
Follicle
poisonous fruits
Tiarella trifoliata Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Alternate (basal)
Compound lobed trifoliate toothed
White
Panicle
5 Bell-shaped -
Capsule
 
Vicia americana Deciduous
Perennial
M-L Alternate
Compound entire
Blue purple
Raceme
5 Pea-flower -
Pod
tendrils
   Alternate    Deciduous    Simple leaves
Achillea millefolium Deciduous
Perennial
S-XL Alternate (basal)
Simple pinnate
White
Cluster
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Aconitum columbianum Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Alternate
Simple lobed
Purple blue
Raceme
5 Irregular -
Follicle
unique flowers
Adenocaulon bicolor Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple arrowhead
White
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
leaves wooly below
Anaphalis margaritacea Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple entire linear
White
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Antennaria racemosa Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Alternate (basal)
Simple entire
Green
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Aster conspicuus Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple toothed
Blue / violet
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
sandpapery leaves
Campanula rotundifolia Deciduous
Perennial
S-XL Alternate (basal)
Simple cordate linear
Blue
Single
5 Bell-shaped -
Capsule
milky sap
Cardamine constancei Deciduous
Perennial
M Alternate
Simple lobed
Pink
Raceme
4 Regular -
Silique
uncommon
Disporum spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S-L Alternate
Simple entire
White
Single
3 Bell-shaped Red / yellow
Berry
branched stems
Epilobium angustifolium Deciduous
Perennial
S-XL Alternate
Simple linear
Pink - purple
Raceme
4 Regular Green - red
Capsule
common in clearcuts
Erigeron peregrinus Deciduous
Perennial
S-XL Alternate
Simple entire
Purple
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
 
Mertensia paniculata Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple entire
Blue
Cluster
5 Tubular -
Nutlet
riparian
Pedicularis spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S-XL Alternate
Simple pinnate toothed
White / purple / yellow
Raceme
5 Bilabiate -
Capsule
 
Phacelia heterophylla Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple lobed entire
White - purple
Cluster
5 Tubular -
Capsule
 
Ranunculus uncinatus Deciduous
Per. (ann.)
M-L Alternate
Simple cordate lobed
Yellow
Single
5 Regular -
Achene
 
Senecio triangularis Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple arrowhead toothed
Yellow
Head
5 Composite -
Achene
riparian
Smilacina spp. Deciduous
Perennial
M-XL Alternate
Simple entire
White
Panicle / raceme
3 Regular Red - green
Berry
 
Streptopus amplexifolius Deciduous
Perennial
L-XL Alternate
Simple entire
Greenish white
Single
3 Bell-shaped Orange
Berry
twisted pedicel
Veratrum spp. Deciduous
Perennial
XL Alternate
Simple entire
White / green
Panicle
3 Regular -
Capsule
poisonous
Viola spp. Deciduous
Perennial
S-M Alternate (basal)
Simple toothed
Violet / yellow / white
Single
5 Regular -
Capsule
 
- = "to"          / = "or"          () = "can also be"
Size:          S: 0-15cm (0-6in)          M: 15-30cm (6-12in)          L: 3-6dm (12-24in)          XL: 6dm+ (24in+)