Flora of Rose Creek

Plants Of The Rose Creek Reserve

The Rose Creek Reserve, located north of Pullman, is maintained by PCEI as a rare remnant of natural Palouse vegetation, including shrub steppe and riparian areas

Those families indicated by the symbol “” have been updated to reflect current taxonomy. Taxonomic updates were conducted in spring 1998 by Mark Fishbein.

*” denotes introduced species.

This list is not complete nor confirmed. Please let us know of additions!

​Plant families are listed alphabetically.
Scientific Name: Common Name:

“The plants in the following list were observed on the Hudson Tract along Rose Creek, in the SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 36, Township 16 N, Range 44 East, lying east of the county road, including the Nature Conservancy Area, from June 1966 through June 1968.”

Xerpha M. Gaines, December 1969

Amaranthaceae Amaranth family

  • Amaranthus albus L. Tumbling amaranth or pigweed
  • Amaranthus graecizans L. Prostrate pigweed

Apiaceae • Carrot family

  • Conium maculatum L. * Poison hemlock
  • Heracleum lanatum Michx. Cow parsnip
  • Lomatium dissectum (Nutt. ex T. & G.) Mathias & Const. Desert parsley
  • Lomatium gormanii (Howell) J. M. Coult. & Rose Pepper and salt
  • Lomatium grayi (J. M. Coult. & Rose) J. M. Coult. & Rose Gray’s desert parsley
  • Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) J. M. Coult & Rose Narrow-leaved desert parsley
  • Perideridia gairdneri (H. & A.) Math. Wild caraway

Asteraceae • Sunflower family

  • Achillea millefolium L. Yarrowmilfoil
  • Agoseris glauca (Pursh) Raf. Goat chicory
  • Agoseris grandiflora (Nutt.) Greene False dandeliongoat chicory
  • Agoseris heterophylla (Nutt.) Greene False dandeliongoat chicory
  • Antennaria luzuloides T. & G. Pearly everlasting
  • Anthemis cotula L. * Dog fennelMay weed
  • Arctium minus (Hill) Bernh. * Burdock
  • Artemisia absinthium L. * Absinthewormwood
  • Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. ssp. ludoviciana Wormwoodsagebrush
  • Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. Balsamroot
  • Bidens cernua L. Begger ticks
  • Centaurea cyanus L. * Bachelor’s buttoncornflower
  • Cichorium intybus L. * Chicory
  • Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. * Canada thistle
  • Cirsium brevifolium Nutt. Palouse thistle
  • Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore * Bull thistle
  • Erigeron filifolius (Hook.) Nutt. Fleabanedaisy
  • Gaillardia aristata Pursh Blanket flower
  • Gnaphalium palustre Nutt. Cudweed
  • Helianthella uniflora (Nutt.) T. & G. False sunflower
  • Hieracium scouleri Hook. var. albertinum (Farr.) G.W. Douglas & G.A. Allen Hawkweed
  • Lactuca serriola L. * Prickly or China lettuce
  • Lagophylla ramosissima Nutt. Slender rabbit-leaf
  • Madia citriodora Greene Lemon-scented tarweed
  • Madia gracilis (Smith) Keck Slender tarweed
  • Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter Pineapple weed
  • Microseris nutans (Hook.) Schultz-Bip. Nodding microseris
  • Senecio hydrophilus Nutt. Groundselragwort
  • Senecio hydrophiloides Rydb. Groundselragwort
  • Senecio integerrimus Nutt. Tall ragwort
  • Senecio serra Hook. Groundselragwort
  • Solidago canadensis L. Northern goldenrod
  • Soldiago missouriensis Nutt. var. missouriensis Goldenrod
  • Sonchus asper (L.) Hill * Spiny sowthistle
  • Sonchus oleraceus L.* Annual sowthistle
  • Symphiotrichum spathulatum (Lindl.) Nesom var. intermedium (A. Gray) Nesom (= Aster occidentalis (Nutt.) T. & G. var. occidentalis Western Aster
  • Tanacetum vulgare L. * Tansy
  • Taraxacum officinale Web. ex Wig. * Dandelion
  • Tragopogon dubius Scop. * Salsify
  • Tragopogon pratensis L. * Meadow salsify
  • Wyethia amplexicaulis (Nutt.) Nutt. Mule’s earsPik

Berberidaceae • Barberry family

  • Berberis repens Lindl. Small Oregon Grape

Boraginaceae • Borage family

  • Amsinckia menziesii (Lehm.) Nels. & Macbr. Fiddleneck; fireweed, tarweed
  • Asperugo procumbens L. * Madwort
  • Cryptantha torreyana (Gray) Greene Nievitas
  • Lithospermum arvense L. * Field gromwell; stoneseed
  • Lithospermum ruderale Dougl. ex Lehm. Cat’s-tooth; lemon weed, puccoon
  • Mertensia longiflora Greene Bluebells
  • Myosotis micrantha Pall ex Lehm. * Forget-Me-Not
  • Plagiobothrys scouleri (Hook. & Arn.) I.M. Johnst. var. penicillatus (Greene) Cronq. Popcorn flower

Brassicaceae Mustard family

  • Arabis glabra (L.) Bernh. Tower mustard
  • Athysanus pusillus (Hook.) Greene Sandweed
  • Barbarea orthocerus Ledeb. Winter cress
  • Camelina microcarpa Andrz. * False flax
  • Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medic. * Shepherd’s purse
  • Descurainia sophia (L.) Webb. * Flixweed
  • Draba verna L. Whitlow grass
  • Erysimum cheiranthoides L. * Wormseed mustard
  • Erysimum repandum L. * Bushy wallflower
  • Sisymbrium altissimum L. * Jim Hill or tumble mustard
  • Thlaspi arvense L. * Fanweed, field pennycress

Caprifoliaceae • Honeysuckle family

  • Lonicera ciliosa (Pursh) DC. Orange-flowered honeysuckle
  • Sambucus cerulea Raf. Blue elderberry
  • Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake var. albus Snowberry

Caryophyllaceae Pink family

  • Arenaria congesta Nutt. Dense-flowered sandwort
  • Arenaria stricta Michx. Slender sandwort
  • Cerastium viscosum L. * Sticky mouse-ear chickweed
  • Cerastium vulgatum L. * Common mouse-ear chickweed
  • Holosteum umbellatum L. * Jagged chickweed
  • Lychnis alba Mill. * White campion
  • Silene douglasii Hook. Douglas campion
  • Silene menziesii Hook. Catchfly
  • Silene scouleri Hook. Scouler’s silene
  • Stellaria longipes Goldie Starwort
  • Vaccaria segetalis (Neck.) Garcke ex Asch. * Cow cockle

Chenopodiaceae Goosefoot family

  • Chenopodium album L. * Lamb’s-quarters

Clusiaceae St. Johnswort family

  • Hypericum perforatum L. * St. Johnswort; goatweed

Convolvulaceae • Morning glory family

  • Convolvulus arvensis L. * Field bindweed; morning glory

Cornaceae • Dogwood family

  • Cornus sericea L. Red-osier dogwood

Cyperaceae • Sedge family

  • Carex sp. 1 Sedge
  • Carex sp. 2 Sedge
  • Eleocharis sp. Spike rush

Dipsacaceae • Teasel family

  • Dipsacus fullonum L. (= D. sylvestris Huds.) * Wild teasel

Equisetaceae • Horsetail Rush family

  • Equisetum arvense L. Field or common horsetail

Fabaceae • Pea family

  • Astragalus canadensis L. Milk vetch
  • Astragalus succumbens Dougl. Columbia milk vetch
  • Lathyrus bijugatus White Wild sweet pea
  • Lotus purshianus (Benth.) Clem. & Clem. Spanish clover
  • Lupinus leucophyllus Dougl. Woolly-leaved lupine
  • Lupinus sericeus Pursh Silky lupine
  • Medicago lupulina L. * Black medic; hop clover
  • Trifolium arvense L. * Rabbit-foot clover
  • Trifolium hybridum L. * Alsike clover
  • Trifolium repens L. * White clover
  • Vicia americana Muhl. American vetch
  • Vicia villosa Roth. * Hairy vetch

Fumariaceae • Fumitory family

  • Dicentra cucullaria (L.) Bernh. Dutchman’s breeches

Gentianaceae • Gentian family

  • Frasera albicaulis Dougl. ex Griseb. Columbo
  • Gentiana affinis Griseb. Prairie gentian

Hydrocharitaceae • Frog’s-bit family

  • Elodea canadensis Michx. Canadian water-weed

Hydrophyllaceae • Waterleaf family

  • Hydrophyllum capitatum Dougl. ex Benth. Purple cat’s-breeches
  • Hydrophyllum fendleri (Gray) Heller White-flower cat’s breeches
  • Phacelia hastata Dougl. ex Lehm. Whiteleaf phacelia

Iridaceae • Iris family

  • Iris missouriensis Nutt. Western blue iris
  • Sisyrinchium douglasii A. Dietr. var. inflatum (Suksd.) P. Holmgren (= S. inflatum (Suksd.) St. John) Grass widows; blue-eyed grass

Juncaeae • Rush family

  • Juncus bufonius L. Toad rush
  • Juncus confusus Cov. Colorado rush

Lamiaceae • Mint family

  • Agastache urticifolia (Benth.) Kuntze. Giant hyssop
  • Lamium amplexicaule L. * Henbit; dead nettle
  • Marrubium vulgare L. * Horehound
  • Mentha arvensis L. Mint
  • Nepeta cataria L. * Catnip
  • Prunella vulgaris L. *
  • Heal-all; self-heal
  • Scutellaria angustifolia Pursh Skullcap

Liliaceae • Lily family

  • Allium acuminatum Hook. Wild onion
  • Calochortus elegans Pursh
  • Cat’s ear
  • Camassia quamash (Pursh) Greene Camas
  • Erythronium grandiflorum Pursh Lamb’s-tongue; dog-tooth violet
  • Fritillaria pudica (Pursh) Spreng. Yellow bell
  • Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf.
  • False Solomon’s-seal
  • Trillium petiolatum Pursh
  • Purple trillium
  • Triteleia grandiflora Lindl. (= Brodiaea douglasii Wats.)
  • Wild hyacinth
  • Veratrum californicum Dur. var. californicum
  • False hellebore
  • Zigadenus venenosus S. Watson var. gramineus (Rydb.) Walsh ex M.E. Peck Grassy death camas

Linaceae • Flax family

  • Linum lewisii Pursh Wild blue flax

Malvaceae Mallow family

  • Malva neglecta Wallr. * Cheeseweed
  • Sidalcea oregana (Nutt. ex T.& G.) Gray Wild hollyhock

Onagraceae • Evening primrose family

  • Clarkia pulchella Pursh.
  • Deer horn; ragged robin
  • Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub (= Epilobium angustifolium L.) Fireweed; great willow herb
  • Epilobium ciliatum Raf. var. glandulosum (Lehm.) Dorn Glandular willow weed
  • Epilobium densiflorum (Lindl.) Hoch. & P.H. Raven (= Boisduvalia densiflora (Lindl.) Wats. Vernal-pool candle; spike-primrose
  • Epilobium brachycarpum C. Presl. (= E. paniculatum Nutt. ex T.& G.) Small willow herb
  • Gaura parviflora Dougl. ex Lehm. Velvet weed
  • Gayophytum nuttallii T. &G. (? – possible misidentification) 

Orobanchaceae • Broomrape family

  • Orobanche uniflora L.
  • One-flowered broomrape

Papaveraceae • Poppy family

  • Papaver argemone L. * Wild poppy; headache

Pinaceae • Pine family

  • Pinus ponderosa Doug. ex P.& C. Lawson
  • Yellow or bull pine

Plantaginaceae Plantain family

  • Plantago lanceolata L. * English plantain; buckthorn plantain

Poaceae • Grass family

  • Agrostis stolonifera L. * Redtop
  • Agrostis scabra Willd. Rough bentgrass; tickle grass
  • Alopecurus pratensis L. * Meadow foxtail
  • Apera interrupta (L.) Beauv. * Satan’s hair
  • Arrhenatherum elatius (L.) J. Presl. & C. Presl. * Tall oat-grass
  • Avena fatua L. * Wild oat
  • Bromus briziformis Fisch. & Mey. * Rattlesnake brome
  • Bromus carinatus Hook. & Arn. California brome
  • Bromus inermis Leyss. * Smooth brome
  • Bromus marginatus (? uncertain i.d.) Mountain brome
  • Bromus secalinus L. * Chess; cheat
  • Bromus tectorum L. * Cheat; downy brome
  • Dactylis glomerata L. *
  • Orchard grass
  • Danthonia spicata (L.) Beauv. Poverty oatgrass
  • Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv. * Barnyard grass; water grass
  • Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Shinners ssp. subsecundum (Link) Gould Bearded wheatgrass
  • Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Shinners ssp. trachycaulus Slender wheatgrass
  • Festuca idahoensis Elmer Idaho fescue
  • Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schultes June grass
  • Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Löve (= Elymus cinereus Scribn. & Merr.) Basin wild rye
  • Phalaris arundinacea L. Reed canary grass
  • Phleum pratense L. *
  • Timothy
  • Poa bulbosa L. * Bulbous bluegrass
  • Poa compressa L. * Canadian bluegrass
  • Poa palustris L. * Fowl bluegrass
  • Poa pratensis L. * Kentucky bluegrass
  • Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. * Rabbit-foot grass

Polemoniaceae • Phlox family

  • Collomia grandiflora Dougl. ex Lindl.
  • Salmon-colored collomia
  • Collomia linearis Nutt. Pink collomia
  • Navarretia intertexta (Benth.) Hook. Skunk-weed
  • Phlox gracilis (Hook.) Greene
  • Pink eye
  • Phlox speciosa Pursh Phlox

Polygonaceae Buckwheat family

  • Eriogonum heracleoides Nutt.
  • Wild buckwheat
  • Polygonum aviculare L. * Door weed; knot grass
  • Polygonum convolvulus L. * Black bindweed; wild buckwheat
  • Polygonum douglasii Greene Knotweed
  • Polygonum lapathifolium L. * Pale smartweed
  • Rumex acetosella L. * Sheep sorrel
  • Rumex crispus L. * Curly dock

Portulacacaeae Purslane family

  • Claytonia perfoliata Donn.
  • Miner’s lettuce
  • Montia linearis (Dougl.) Greene
  • Narrow-leaved miner’s lettuce

Potomogetonaceae • Pondweed family

  • Potomogeton sp. Pondweed

Primulaceae Primrose family

  • Dodecatheon pulchellum (Raf.) Merr. Bird-bill; shooting star

Ranunculaceae • Buttercup family

  • Clematis hirsutissima Pursh
  • Sugar bowl
  • Delphinium distichum Geyer ex Hooker Meadow larkspur
  • Delphinium nuttallianum Pritzel
  • Upland larkspur
  • Ranunculus arvensis L. * Field buttercup
  • Ranunculus glaberrimus Hook.
  • Spring flowering buttercup
  • Ranunculus uncinatus D. Don Buttercup
  • Thalictrum occidentale Gray
  • Meadow rue

Rosaceae • Rose family

  • Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roan
  • Service berry
  • Crataegus douglasii Lindl.
  • Black hawthorn
  • Fragaria virginiana Miller
  • Pale strawberry
  • Geum macrophyllum Willd. Large-leaf avens
  • Potentilla glandulosa Lindl. Sticky cinquefoil
  • Potentilla gracilis Dougl. ex Hook.
  • Five-finger; cinquefoil
  • Prunus virginiana L.
  • Choke cherry
  • Rosa nutkana C. Presl.
  • Nootka rose
  • Rosa woodsii Lindl. Wild rose
  • Sanguisorba annua (Nutt. ex Hook.) Torr. & A. Gray Burnet

Rubiaceae • Madder family

  • Galium aparine L. Cleavers
  • Galium boreale L.
  • Northern bedstraw
  • Galium triflorum Michx. Three-flowered bedstraw

Salicaceae Willow family

  • Populus tremuloides Michx.
  • Quaking aspen
  • Salix exigua Nutt. Slender, sandbar, or coyote willow
  • Salix rigida var. mackenzieana (Hook.) Cronq. Mackenzie willow

Saxifragaceae • Saxifrage family

  • Heuchera cylindrica Dougl. ex Hook.
  • Alumroot
  • Lithophragma glabrum Nutt. Baby face
  • Lithophragma parviflorum (Hook.) Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray
  • Baby’s breath
  • Saxifraga sp. Saxifrage

Scrophulariaceae • Figwort family

  • Besseya rubra (Dougl.) Rydb.
  • Red besseya
  • Castilleja cusickii Greenm. Cusick’s paintbrush
  • Castilleja lutescens (Greenm.) Rydb. Pale paintbrush
  • Collinsia parviflora Dougl. ex. Lindl.
  • Bluelips
  • Mimulus guttatus DC. Yellow monkey flower
  • Penstemon confertus Dougl. ex Lindl. Yellow beard-tongue
  • Scrophularia lanceolata Pursh Figwort
  • Verbascum thapsus L. *
  • Common mullein
  • Veronica americana Schwein ex. Benth. American brookline
  • Veronica arvensis L. * Corn speedwell
  • Veronica peregrina L. Neckweed

Solanaceae • Nightshade family

  • Solanum sarrachoides Sendt ex Mart. * Hairy nightshade
  • Solanum triflorum Nutt. Cut-leaved nightshade

Typhaceae • Cat-tail family

  • Typha latifolia L. Cat-tail

Urticaceae • Nettle family

  • Urtica dioica L. Tall nettle

Valerianaceae • Valerian family

  • Plectritis macrocera T.&G.
  • Longhorn plectritis
  • Valeriana edulis Nutt. ex T. & G. Tobacco root; Masawah

Verbenaceae • Verbena or vervian family

  • Verbena bracteata Lag. & Rodr. Bracted verbena; vervian

Violaceae Violet family

  • Viola adunca Sm. Blue violet