Mount Hood pussypaws (Cistanthe umbellata) Wildflower Pictures

Wild Macro | Natural History Fine Art Photography by Timothy Boomer

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Mount Hood Pussypaws (Cistanthe umbellata)

Mount Hood pussypaws (Cistanthe umbellata, formerly Calyptridium umbellatum) is a perennial herb found throughout western North America. It is often confused with one-seeded pussypaws (Cistanthe monosperma). Both species thrive in dry, gravelly, high-elevation environments which are too harsh for many other plants. Both species also have the ability to thermoregulate; they can elevate their flower stems when the ground is too hot and then lower them back down during cooler temperatures. One way to differentiate these species is by the number of stems emerging from the basal rosette (cluster of leaves). This species only has one stem per basal rosette, whereas one-seeded pussypaws has two or more. However, this can be more difficult to determine in the common scenario where multiple specimens are clustered together.

Mount Hood pussypaws (Cistanthe umbellata) with stem raised for thermoregulation. Carson Pass, Mokelumne Wilderness, Eldorado National Forest, Sierra Nevada, Alpine County, California, USA.
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Next Plant: One-seeded pussypaws (Cistanthe monosperma)

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