Strange but very pretty flower on Dog Mountain

[EvanTaylor]

I signed up for Portland Hikers just so I could share a picture of a flower I've never seen before! This is one of my favorite websites, and I'm on it pretty much every day, so it was really about time to sign up anyway.



I spent a good while searching through Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, but did not see anything similar. It's possible I overlooked it. There was an entire hill covered with this type of flower, and my friends and I just could not figure out what it was. We even asked a few other people on the trail as they walked by.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Peder]

Welcome Evan! Somebody will know!

[Excursionista]

It's Ballhead waterleaf (Hydrophyllum capitum var. Thompsonii). Very cool flower!

Welcome to the site!

Plants of the PNW Coast is great, but limited in range. I've found Turner and Gustafson's "Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest" by Timber Press to be extremely helpful for a solid, introductory guide to the entire region. Ballhead waterleaf is on page 441.

[EvanTaylor]

Thank you! I'll definitely be picking up that wildflower book.
Another reason why this website is so great.

[vibramhead]

You can also find this flower in the Washington Wildflowers app, which seems quite comprehensive. It was developed by the U. of Wash. Herbarium, and sells for $8. I find it pretty user-friendly.

[SonOfTamarack]

My wife and I call that the cartoon explosion flower.