[Karen]

Calling all experts -- this is only a scan from a print I took yesterday near Salmon la Sac but is this stonecrop? The photos I've looked at in field guides depict it as yellow but this one was definitely of a reddish hue. Is this something else or the common stonecrop that is yellow? Maybe it's reddish in cash before in full bloom. Just wondering. Karen

stone crop

[IBEX]

The ever evolving synthetic oils spewed by the thousands of two cycle, smoke belching snowmobiles and motor cycles that pollute the Cle Elum River Valley yearly will continue its genetic morphing to a degree beyond any imaginable level in plants and animals and even humans. I have seen lately and more frequently that same rusty hue that suffocates life and foams the creeks of the Cascade spring melt. And more prevalent along the winter snowmobile routes and again beside the motorcycle trails of summer. Its disheartening to see that the corporate greed of oil money is systematically devouring the globe by buying the US government, raping the environment and manipulating the military machine toward Arab control or genocide. But the worst part is; to express these views on a public forum can lead to incarceration with out council and be labeled and environmental terrorist. Oops! My politics are showing. Sorry Karen. Now wasn’t there a botanical question here somewhere?

[Newt]

Looks like a Stone crop from here. I think there is also a variety that is reddish and it could be that this will have yellow flowers when it opens up. NN

[marta]

That's a stonecrop (sedum). Those are actually the leaves of the plant and not a flower or bud. The leaves will often be 'bronzed'. Bronzed folage is common in succulant plants and is a reaction to exposure to sun. The flowers will probably be yellow.

[Karen]

Thanks for help in identifying the flower (sedum). I was about 95 percent sure it was stonecrop but I'm no expert. Karen

[Newt]

Saw a bunch of bright yellow Stone Crop in full bloom on the rocks just north of Deception Pass bridges. Couldn't miss em. Lookin' good in full sun. Also saw what appears to be a bright yellow Paint Brush? at Fort Casey. NN

[dicentra]

There is yellow paintbrush (rare plant!) at Ebey's landing, so I guess that would be possible. Did you take a photo?

[Larry]

There's also some bright yellow paintbrush in the Lost Valley near Sequim, scattered about the pines in the openings.

[Newt]

Got photos. I was told this is what it is but after checking the books I'm not so sure. Doesn't really look like it now. I've never seen Paint Brush before it has opened. Take a look see. NN

[Newt]

Doing some searching I came across some links that lead me to believe it may be Golden Paintbrush. That tickles me pink (hehe) and will have to go back to see it in bloom. Golden Paintbrush Ebey's Landing NN

[Karen]

Newbie, I looked closely at that flower and can tell you that it is not yellow paintbrush but I can't tell what the plant is. Sorry!! Karen

[marta]

Great job, Newt. You got it. I was going to say it was Castilleja wightii which was listed in my Peterson guide as occuring mostly in CA at the beach but was supposed to occur north to Washington. The drawing looked real close as did some pictures on the web. But wightii was not in the Washington Wildlflowers so I was a bit suspicious. The description in WA Wildflower book matches your picture and habit. Unfortunately, there seems to be an error in the key for Castilleja and you can't get to the ID for Castilleja levisecta via the key. Plus your web links have great pictures and habitat descriptions . On the subject of web pages, I found this site with a lot of pictures of Eastern Washington Flowers. Click on the photo gallery. Central Washington Native Plants We saw Castilleja thompsonii at Hayward Road. There's also a great picture of Camassia quamash. - marta

[dicentra]

[Newt]

Yeh, the book descriptions had me leaning towards it not being one. Glad the one link had a pnoto of it not open 'cause that really changed my mine. Plus the tip of them being at Ebey's Landing. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast was the only one that really said much about it. I bet it's a pretty one when it opens up. Which should be soon? Thanks for the links. NN

[kleet]

Marta, thanks for the link! That is so kewl, especially the lichen page!