Elkweed-Frasera speciosa

This tall flowering stalk is elkweed (Frasera speciosa), also called monument plant or green gentian and was once known as Swertia radiata. It's in the Gentian Family (Gentianaceae), and has a fascinating life story.

The plants produce basal leaves, sometimes up to 80 years, before a flowering stalk emerges. Once the plant flowers, it dies, a trait that makes it a monocarpic plant. It appears that there are flowering outbreaks, when many plants in a close area flower in the same year. 

From a distance, the flowers don't appear conspicuous among the horizontal cauline (along the stem) leaves.
A closer look shows the interesting flowers, with their lavender highlights on the green background. Flowers usually have four petals, but can have five. 

For more information about elkweed, click here.

American Bistort-Polygonum bistortoides

Nestled among grasses and sedges in wet meadows from about 7,000 to 10,000 feet, little white cotton balls appear. Upon closer inspection, one can see that they are small flowers. This is American bistort (Polygonum bistortoides), also called snakeweed, western knotweed, and western bistort, and formerly having the genus name Bistorta.

It is native to western North America. Those with sensitive noses may be able to identify this flower by smell--some say it smells like dirty socks.

For more information about American bistort, click here.

Mountain Monardella-Monardella odoratissima

This colorful flower growing in clumps and with a noticeable minty odor is Mountain Monardella (Monardella odoratissima), a member of the Mint Family (Lamiaceae). It is native to the far western part of North America.

Butterflies are the main pollinators.

For more information about mountain monardella, click here.

Whitestem Goldenbush-Ericameria discoidea

This small shrub covered with yellow flowers is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) and is whitestem goldenbush (Ericameria discoidea). It's native to the western United States.

The flower only has disk flowers, no ray flowers (hence the species name discoidea). 

A fly helps pollinate. For more information about whitestem goldenbush, click here.

Purple Monkeyflower-Mimulus lewisii

This attractive flower growing in moist places on stalks up to three feet tall is a member of the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). It's name is purple monkeyflower or Lewis' monkeyflower (Mimulus lewisii). Although all the other monkeyflowers (Mimulus) in this area are yellow, this one has bright pink or magenta petals.

A closer look shows that it's not all pink. Inside there's a hint of yellow with some darker red spots.

The purple monkeyflower is a real treat to find, and it grows throughout western North America. For more information about it, click here.

Common Mullein-Verbascum thapsus

This tall-stemmed plant with large basal leaves, inch-wide yellow flowers is easy to identify as common mullein (Verbascum thapsus), a member of the Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae). It is not native to North America, but it is found throughout, growing in sunny, disturbed soils. It is a biennial plant, with a small rosette of leaves growing the first year and the tall stalk and flowers the second year.

For more information about common mullein, click here.

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.