Fendler's Meadowrue-Thalictrum fendleri

This difficult-to-photograph flower is Fendler's Meadowrue (Thalictrum fendleri), a member of the Buttercup Family (Ranunculaceae). It grows on mid-elevation slopes, often in shady areas. In the photo above are the male flowers, hanging down in small clusters. (I will have to try to rephotograph this one, none of many photos turned out well). The wind takes the pollen from the filaments. 

The female flowers don't droop, but rather reach up to the sky, and are able to catch the pollen from the male flowers on their stigmas. These flowers have no petals, just greenish sepals, so they aren't conspicuous due to their flowers, but their pretty leaves will often decorate a large area.

For more information about Fendler's Meadowrue, click here.

White Checkerbloom-Sidalcea candida

Growing in moist areas is an attractive flower about three feet tall, white checkerbloom (Sidalcea candida). It's a member of the Mallow Family (Malvaceae). "Candida" means "brilliant white." Many other members of the Mallow Family are orange or pink, so this one stands out.

Flowers are about an inch wide with five petals. 

This flower has attracted a pollinator and its petals look like they have been nibbled away.

For more information about white checkerbloom, click here.

Sierra Bog Orchid-Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys

It may come as a surprise to many hikers to find beautiful three foot stems covered with orchids next to streams in the Great Basin. Nonetheless, that's what they are, the Sierra bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys). There are plenty of other names, including white rein orchid, white bog orchid, white-flowered bog orchid, and the scientific names Platanthera leuchostachys and Habenaria dilatata.

The flowers are made up of an upper sepal and upper 2 petals that form a hood over the reproductive parts, the lower 2 sepals spread out as wings, and the lower petal curves at the base and then becomes a long spur. 

For more information about sierra bog orchid, click here.

Spearleaf Stonecrop-Sedum lanceolatum

This bright yellow flower generally doesn't grow more a few inches high, but the colorful flowers beg for attention. It's spearleaf stonecrop, also called lanceleaf stonecrop and narrowleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum), a member of the Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae). 

The basal leaves are succulent, and the stem leaves alternate. The flowers usually grow in groups on gravelly soils from 6,000 to 11,000 feet.

For more information about spearleaf stonecrop, click here.

Scouler's St. Johnswort-Hypericum scouleri

This bright yellow flower just begs for attention along streambanks and moist areas. I didn't recognize what family it belonged to at first, with its 5 regular petals, numerous stamens, and clasping leaves. Fortunately it didn't take long to find in my flower book Great Basin Wildflowers, where I learned that it's a member of the St. John's Wort Family (Clusiaceae). This is called Scouler's St. Johnswort (Hypericum scouleri).

The flowers appear like stars, with bursts of color coming from the middle in the form of yellow, threadlike filaments, with a black dot on the end.

For more information about Scouler's St. Johnswort, click here.

Desert Frasera-Frasera albomarginata

A plant that can be easily overlooked in pinyon-juniper areas in rocky soil is desert frasera (Frasera albomarginata), also called white-margined green gentian. It's a member of the Gentian Family (Gentianaceae).

Flowers are white with green specks. They are quite pretty, but generally only about 1/2 inch across.

This plant can be spotted early in the summer due to its leaves--green with white margins (hence the species name albomarginata "white margins"). These leaves wither as the plant ages.

For more information about desert frasera, click here.

Sego Lily-Calochortus nuttallii

This striking white flower is the sego lily (Calochortus nuttallii). Although they bloom at lower elevations earlier in the summer, I saw one in bloom yesterday at about 7,400 feet.

They have three white petals, with yellow and dark red markings at the base. They are perennial and have a bulb that is considered a delicacy by some. Some of the Mormon pioneers ate the bulbs to help avoid starvation, and this flower later became the state flower of Utah.

For more information about the sego lily, click here.