Cliff dwarf-primrose

Appearance

The leaves are oblong-oblanceolate or oblanceolate, measuring from 5-20 mm long and 2-5 mm wide. The margins range from entire to few-toothed with glabrous to ciliolate surfaces.

The inflorescence consists of 2-10 closely-flowered umbels. The flower stems range from 2-15 mm long. The involucres consist of 4-8 ovate or ovate-lanceolate bracts, each from 3-8 mm long. The calyx is 6-7 mm long and consists 5 subequal, lanceolate lobes. The corolla consists of a tube from 6-7 mm long with 5 oblong-obovate lobes from 4-5 mm long. The flowers are a deep pinkish-rose in color, fading to lavender. Flowering Time: Late Spring, Early Summer

Naming

Common names
Cliff Dwarf-primrose, Dwarf Primrose, Smooth Douglasia, Smooth-leaf Douglasia

Synonyms
Douglasia laevigata
Douglasia laevigata subsp. ciliolata
Douglasia laevigata var. ciliolata
Gregoria laevigata
Primula laevigata

Distribution

Cliff dwarf-primrose may be found west of the Cascade crest from Snohomish County in Washington south to Mt. Rainier, in the Olympic Mts. and Coast Range of southwestern Washington and northwestern Oregon, and the Columbia River Gorge.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-3400' from near Crown Point and Mitchell Point.

Habitat

Cliff dwarf-primrose may be found on rocky or talus slopes at low elevation (in the Columbia River Gorge and along the Pacific Coast) to subalpine and alpine habitats. In the Columbia River Gorge, it is often found on shear, basalt cliffs as colorful hanging gardens that often must be viewed with binoculars.