Fringecup
Tellima grandiflora
Description: A perennial plant from short rhizomes, with 40-80cm tall stems that are very hairy on the lower part. Lower leaves on stalks are heart to kidney shaped, 2-8cm wide with multiple pointed teeth, leaves become stalkless farther up the stem. Flowers are greenish white to reddish with frilly petals, 10-35 along the stem tip in a loose cluster.
Ecology: This plant is common in southwestern coastal BC, on streambanks, moist masy rocks or forests, found from sea level to middle elevations.
Notes: This picture was taken at a stream bank at Wakefield Creek in Sechelt, BC.
Uses: Was used by native peoples in tea for sickness and lack of appetite.
Foamflower
Tiarella trifoliata
Description: Erect or ascending perennial from short rhizomes, hairy 15-60cm tall. The main leaves are basal from long stalks with 3 irregularly lobed, coarsely toothed, slightly hairy leaves. Stem leaves are reduced in size with shorter stalks. With tiny delicate bell shaped flowers in elongate clusters.
Ecology: This is another common plant in coastal BC, found in moist and shady coniferous forests, seepage areas, stream banks, and clearings at low and middle, sometimes subalpine elevations.
Small Flowered Alumroot
Heuchera micrantha
Description: Perennial from rhizomes with 1 to several flowering stems, with long hairs below to glandular hairy near the flowers. 15-60cm tall. Leaves are mainly basal, kidney or heart shaped to oblong 5-7 lobed with sharp or round teeth. They are usually hairy on the leaf stock and lower surface. Flowers in numerous open clusters, very small.
Ecology: Common on rock crevices, stream banks, and talus slopes from low to subalpine elevations in southwestern BC, rare elsewhere.
Notes: This one was found in a rocky previously blasted area on the side of a logging road in Sechelt, BC, June 2001.
Coast Boykinia
Boykinia elata
Description: 15-60cm tall perennial with brown or reddish stems that may be covered with glandular hairs, from rhizomes. Leaves are heart to kidney shaped 2-8cm wide with 5-7 clefts and multiple sharp teeth, lower leaves have long stalks but become stalkless farther up the stem. Flowers are white, numerous in open compound groups at the branch top.
Ecology: Found on moist mossy rocks and moist forests from low to middle elevation as far north as the northern tip of Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland.
Notes: This one was found in July 2003 on a rocky edge next to Homesite Creek near Sechelt, BC, low elevation.
Alaska Saxifrage
Saxifraga ferrugina
Description: Perennial from short unbranched stem base 10-35cm tall. Flowering stems are glandular hairy, leafless and purplish in colour, they may be single or many. White or purplish flowers with stalked petals, usually with 3 upper petals that are slightly larger than the bottom 2, have 2 yellow spots. All basal leaves, narrowly spoon shaped, toothed, taper to winged stalks.
Ecology: Found on moist mossy outcrops, stream banks and wet rocks from sea level to alpine areas.
Notes: This one was photographed on a rocky outcrop near the top of the Caren Range mountains. July 2006 photo.
Leatherleaf Saxifrage
Leptarrhena pyrolifia
Description: Perennial from spreading rhizomes, glandular hairy flowering stems are unbranched and grow 20-40cm tall, with 1-3 small leaves on the stem that turn purplish in the fall. Glossy green leaves are mostly basal, oval or oblong, leathery and hairless, deeply veined above. Produces a tight cluster of small white flowers.
Ecology: Found at subalpine and alpine elevations on stream banks, mossy seepage areas, high elevation meadows.
Notes: This one was found at the edge of a tiny subalpine lake in the Tetrahedron, July 15, 2006.
