Species Descriptions

NB Flora

Vascular Plants

Includes all flowering plants, conifers, ferns and fern-allies.

Browse by scientific name:
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Scientific names beginning with A:

104 genera
390 species, 116 subspecies and varieties

Show only taxa with photos

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Index to genera:

Abies, Abronia, Abutilon, Acer, Achillea, Achlys, Achnatherum, Acmispon, Aconitum, Aconogonon, Acorus, Actaea, Adelinia, Adenocaulon, Adiantum, Adonis, Aegilops, Aegopodium, Aesculus, Agastache, Ageratina, Agoseris, Agrimonia, Agropogon, Agropyron, Agrostemma, Agrostis, Ailanthus, Aira, Ajuga, Alcea, Alhagi, Aliciella, Alisma, Alliaria, Allium, Allotropa, Alnus, Alopecurus, Alstroemeria, Alyssum, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Amelanchier, Ammannia, Ammophila, Amorpha, Amphiscirpus, Amsinckia, Anaphalis, Anchusa, Andromeda, Androsace, Anemone, Anethum, Angelica, Anisocarpus, Antennaria, Anthemis, Anthoxanthum, Anthriscus, Anticlea, Antirrhinum, Apera, Aphanes, Aphyllon, Apium, Apocynum, Aquilegia, Arabidopsis, Arabis, Aralia, Arbutus, Arceuthobium, Arcteranthis, Arctium, Arctostaphylos, Arenaria, Aristida, Armeria, Armoracia, Arnica, Aronia, Arrhenatherum, Artemisia, Arum, Aruncus, Asarum, Asclepias, Askellia, Asparagus, Asperugo, Aspidotis, Asplenium, Astragalus, Athyrium, Athysanus, Atocion, Atriplex, Atropa, Aubrieta, Aucuba, Avena, Azolla

Abies amabilis
Origin: Native

Abies grandis
Origin: Native

Abies lasiocarpa
Origin: Native

• ssp. bifolia

• ssp. lasiocarpa

Abies procera
Origin: Native

Abronia latifolia
Origin: Native

Abronia mellifera
Origin: Native

• var. mellifera

Abronia umbellata
Origin: Native

• var. acutalata

Abutilon theophrasti
Origin: Introduced

Acer campestre
Origin: Introduced

Acer circinatum
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Native

Acer glabrum
Origin: Native

• var. douglasii

Acer macrophyllum
Origin: Native

Acer negundo
Origin: Introduced from east coast, escaped from cultivation

Acer platanoides
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Acer pseudoplatanus
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Acer saccharinum
Origin: Introduced from other parts of North America

Achillea millefolium
Origin: Both native and introduced populations

Achillea ptarmica
Origin: Introduced

Achlys californica
Origin: Native

Achlys triphylla
Origin: Native

Achnatherum hendersonii
Origin: Native

Achnatherum hymenoides
Origin: Native

Achnatherum lemmonii
Origin: Native

• ssp. lemmonii

Achnatherum nelsonii
Origin: Native

• ssp. dorei

• ssp. nelsonii

Achnatherum nevadense
Origin: Native

Achnatherum occidentale
Origin: Native

• ssp. californicum

• ssp. pubescens

Achnatherum richardsonii
Origin: Native

Achnatherum thurberianum
Origin: Native

Acmispon americanus
Origin: Native

• var. americanus

Acmispon denticulatus
Origin: Native

Acmispon nevadensis
Origin: Native

• var. nevadensis

Acmispon parviflorus
Origin: Native

Aconitum columbianum
Origin: Native

• ssp. columbianum

Aconogonon davisiae
Origin: Native

Aconogonon phytolaccifolium
Origin: Native

• var. phytolaccifolium

Acorus americanus
Origin: Native

Acorus calamus
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Actaea elata
Origin: Native

• var. elata

Actaea laciniata
Origin: Native

Actaea rubra
Origin: Native

Adelinia grande
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington;
Origin: Native

Adenocaulon bicolor
Origin: Native

Adiantum aleuticum
Origin: Native

• var. aleuticum

Adonis aestivalis
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Aegilops cylindrica
Origin: Introduced from southern Europe

Aegopodium podagraria
Origin: Introduced; native to Eurasia

Aesculus hippocastanum
Origin: Introduced

Agastache occidentalis
Origin: Native

Agastache urticifolia
Origin: Native

• var. urticifolia

Ageratina occidentalis
Origin: Native

Agoseris ×agrestis
Origin: Native

Agoseris apargioides
Distribution: Coastal areas of Washington;
Origin: Native

• var. maritima

Agoseris aurantiaca
Origin: Native

• var. aurantiaca

• var. carnea

Agoseris ×elata
Origin: Native

Agoseris glauca
Origin: Native

• var. dasycephala

• var. glauca

Agoseris grandiflora
Origin: Native

• var. grandiflora

• var. leptophylla

Agoseris heterophylla
Origin: Native

• var. heterophylla

Agoseris monticola
Origin: Native

Agoseris retrorsa
Origin: Native

Agrimonia eupatoria
Origin: Introduced

Agrimonia gryposepala
Origin: Native

×Agropogon lutosus
Origin: Introduced

Agropyron cristatum
Origin: Introduced

Agropyron fragile
Origin: Introduced

Agrostemma githago
Origin: Introduced, European

• var. githago

Agrostis canina
Origin: Native

Agrostis capillaris
Origin: Introduced

Agrostis castellana
Origin: Introduced

Agrostis exarata
Origin: Native

Agrostis gigantea
Origin: Introduced

Agrostis idahoensis
Origin: Native

Agrostis mertensii
Origin: Native

Agrostis microphylla
Origin: Native

Agrostis ×murbeckii
Origin: Introduced

Agrostis oregonensis
Origin: Native

Agrostis pallens
Origin: Native

Agrostis scabra
Origin: Native

Agrostis stolonifera
Origin: Introduced?

Agrostis variabilis
Origin: Native

Ailanthus altissima
Origin: Introduced from China

Aira caryophyllea
Origin: Introduced

• var. caryophyllea

Aira elegans
Origin: Introduced

Aira praecox
Origin: Introduced

Ajuga reptans
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Alcea rosea
Origin: Introduced

Alhagi maurorum
Origin: Introduced

Aliciella leptomeria
Origin: Native

Aliciella lottiae
Origin: Native

Alisma gramineum
Origin: Native

Alisma plantago-aquatica
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Alisma triviale
Origin: Native

Alliaria petiolata
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Allium acuminatum
Origin: Native

Allium amplectens
Origin: Native

Allium campanulatum
Origin: Native

Allium cepa
Origin: Introduced from Old World, exact origin unknown

Allium cernuum
Origin: Native

Allium columbianum
Distribution: Occurring in easternmost Washington;
Origin: Native

Allium constrictum
Origin: Native

Allium crenulatum
Origin: Native

Allium dictuon
Origin: Native

Allium douglasii
Origin: Native

Allium fibrillum
Origin: Native

Allium geyeri
Origin: Native

• var. geyeri

• var. tenerum

Allium macrum
Origin: Native

Allium nevii
Origin: Native

Allium nigrum
Origin: Introduced

Allium robinsonii
Origin: Native

Allium sativum
Origin: Introduced

• var. sativum

Allium schoenoprasum
Origin: Both native and introduced populations

Allium scilloides
Origin: Native

Allium textile
Origin: Native

Allium tolmiei
Origin: Native

• var. tolmiei

Allium triquetrum
Origin: Introduced

Allium tuberosum
Origin: Introduced

Allium ursinum
Origin: Introduced

Allium validum
Distribution: Occurring in the Olympic Mountains and West Cascades in Washington;
Origin: Native

Allium vineale
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Allotropa virgata
Origin: Native

Alnus incana
Origin: Native

• ssp. tenuifolia

Alnus rhombifolia
Origin: Native

Alnus rubra
Origin: Native

Alnus viridis
Origin: Native

• ssp. fruticosa

• ssp. sinuata

Alopecurus aequalis
Origin: Native

• var. aequalis

Alopecurus arundinaceus
Origin: Introduced

Alopecurus carolinianus
Origin: Introduced

Alopecurus geniculatus
Origin: Native

Alopecurus myosuroides
Origin: Introduced

Alopecurus pratensis
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Alopecurus saccatus
Origin: Native

Alstroemeria aurea
Origin: Introduced from Chile

Alyssum alyssoides
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Alyssum desertorum
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Alyssum murale
Origin: Introduced

Amaranthus albus
Origin: Introduced from tropical America

Amaranthus blitoides
Origin: Introduced from central United States

Amaranthus blitum
Origin: Introduced from the tropics

Amaranthus californicus
Origin: Native

Amaranthus caudatus
Origin: Introduced

Amaranthus cruentus
Origin: Probably introduced from cultivation in Central America

Amaranthus deflexus
Origin: Introduced

Amaranthus hybridus
Origin: Introduced from riparian zones in eastern North America

Amaranthus hypochondriacus
Origin: Introduced

Amaranthus powellii
Origin: Introduced from the southwestern United States and Mexico

Amaranthus retroflexus
Origin: Introduced from eastern and central North America

Amaranthus tuberculatus
Origin: Introduced from the Great Plains of the central United States

Ambrosia acanthicarpa
Origin: Native

Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades in Washington;
Origin: Introduced

Ambrosia chamissonis
Origin: Native

Ambrosia psilostachya
Origin: Native

Ambrosia trifida
Origin: Introduced

Amelanchier alnifolia
Origin: Native

Amelanchier laevis
Origin: Introduced

Amelanchier utahensis
Origin: Native

Ammannia coccinea
Origin: Introduced

Ammannia robusta
Origin: Native

Ammophila arenaria
Origin: Introduced

• ssp. arenaria

Ammophila breviligulata
Origin: Introduced

• ssp. breviligulata

Amorpha fruticosa
Origin: Introduced

Amphiscirpus nevadensis
Origin: Native

Amsinckia intermedia
Origin: Native

Amsinckia lycopsoides
Origin: Native

Amsinckia menziesii
Origin: Native

Amsinckia retrorsa
Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Native

Amsinckia spectabilis
Origin: Native

• var. spectabilis

Amsinckia tessellata
Origin: Native

• var. tessellata

Anaphalis margaritacea
Origin: Native

Anchusa azurea
Origin: Introduced from Old World

• var. azurea

Anchusa officinalis
Origin: Introduced from Mediterranean region

Andromeda polifolia
Origin: Native

• var. polifolia

Androsace filiformis
Origin: Native

Androsace septentrionalis
Origin: Native

Anemone deltoidea
Origin: Native

Anemone drummondii
Origin: Native

• var. drummondii

• var. lithophila

Anemone lyallii
Origin: Native

Anemone multifida
Origin: Native

• var. multifida

• var. saxicola

Anemone occidentalis
Origin: Native

Anemone oregana
Origin: Native

• var. felix

• var. oregana

Anemone parviflora
Origin: Native

Anemone patens
Origin: Native

• var. multifida

Anemone piperi
Origin: Native

Anethum graveolens
Origin: Introduced; native to Asia

Angelica arguta
Origin: Native

Angelica canbyi
Origin: Native

Angelica genuflexa
Origin: Native

Angelica hendersonii
Origin: Native

Angelica lucida
Origin: Native

Anisocarpus madioides
Origin: Native

Antennaria alpina
Origin: Native

Antennaria anaphaloides
Origin: Native

Antennaria corymbosa
Distribution: East of the Cascade crest;
Origin: Native

Antennaria dimorpha
Origin: Native

Antennaria flagellaris
Origin: Native

Antennaria geyeri
Origin: Native

Antennaria howellii
Origin: Native

• ssp. howellii

• ssp. neodioica

Antennaria lanata
Origin: Native

Antennaria luzuloides
Distribution: Chiefly east of the Cascades in Washington.
Origin: Native

• ssp. luzuloides

Antennaria media
Origin: Native

Antennaria microphylla
Origin: Native

Antennaria monocephala
Origin: Native

• ssp. angustata

Antennaria parvifolia
Origin: Native

Antennaria pulcherrima
Origin: Native

Antennaria racemosa
Origin: Native

Antennaria stenophylla
Origin: Native

Antennaria umbrinella
Origin: Native

Anthemis arvensis
Origin: Introduced

Anthemis cotula
Origin: Introduced

Anthoxanthum aristatum
Origin: Introduced

• ssp. aristatum

Anthoxanthum odoratum
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Anthriscus caucalis
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Introduced; native to Eurasia

Anthriscus cerefolium
Origin: Introduced

Anthriscus sylvestris
Origin: Introduced; native to Eurasia

Anticlea elegans
Origin: Native

Anticlea occidentalis
Origin: Native

Antirrhinum majus
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Apera interrupta
Origin: Introduced

Apera spica-venti
Origin: Introduced

Aphanes arvensis
Origin: Introduced

Aphanes australis
Origin: Introduced

Aphanes occidentalis
Origin: Native

Aphyllon californicum
Origin: Native

• ssp. californicum

• ssp. grayanum

Aphyllon corymbosum
Origin: Native

• ssp. corymbosum

• ssp. mutabile

Aphyllon fasciculatum
Origin: Native

Aphyllon ludovicianum
Origin: Native

Aphyllon pinorum
Origin: Native

Aphyllon purpureum
Origin: Native

Apium crispum
Origin: Introduced

Apium graveolens
Origin: Introduced from Europe

• var. dulce

Apocynum androsaemifolium
Origin: Native

Apocynum cannabinum
Origin: Native

Apocynum ×floribundum
Origin: Native

Aquilegia flavescens
Origin: Native

Aquilegia flavescens × Aquilegia formosa var. formosa
Origin: Native

Aquilegia formosa
Origin: Native

• var. formosa

Aquilegia vulgaris
Origin: Introduced

Arabidopsis kamchatica
Distribution: Occurring only in northwestern Washington;
Origin: Native

Arabidopsis thaliana
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Arabis alpina
Origin: Introduced

Arabis caucasica
Distribution: Known only from San Juan County in Washington;
Origin: Introduced

Arabis crucisetosa
Origin: Native

Arabis eschscholtziana
Origin: Native

Arabis furcata
Origin: Native

Arabis nuttallii
Origin: Native

Arabis olympica
Origin: Native

Aralia nudicaulis
Origin: Native

Arbutus menziesii
Origin: Native

Arbutus unedo
Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Introduced

Arceuthobium abietinum
Origin: Native

Arceuthobium americanum
Origin: Native

Arceuthobium campylopodum
Origin: Native

Arceuthobium douglasii
Origin: Native

Arceuthobium laricis
Origin: Native

Arceuthobium tsugense
Origin: Native

• ssp. contortae

• ssp. tsugense

Arcteranthis cooleyae
Origin: Native

Arctium lappa
Origin: Introduced

Arctium minus
Origin: Introduced

Arctostaphylos columbiana
Origin: Native

Arctostaphylos ×media
Origin: Native

Arctostaphylos nevadensis
Origin: Native

• ssp. nevadensis

Arctostaphylos nevadensis × Arctostaphylos patula
Origin: Native

Arctostaphylos patula
Origin: Native

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Origin: Native

Arenaria paludicola
Origin: Native

Arenaria serpyllifolia
Origin: Introduced from Europe

• var. serpyllifolia

Aristida purpurea
Origin: Native

• var. longiseta

Armeria arenaria
Origin: Introduced

Armeria maritima
Origin: Native

• ssp. californica

• ssp. maritima

Armoracia rusticana
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Arnica chamissonis
Origin: Native

Arnica cordifolia
Origin: Native

Arnica fulgens
Origin: Native

Arnica gracilis
Origin: Native

Arnica lanceolata
Origin: Native

• ssp. prima

Arnica latifolia
Origin: Native

Arnica longifolia
Origin: Native

Arnica mollis
Origin: Native

Arnica nevadensis
Origin: Native

Arnica ovata
Origin: Native

Arnica parryi
Origin: Native

Arnica rydbergii
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Native

Arnica sororia
Origin: Native

Aronia melanocarpa
Origin: Introduced

Arrhenatherum elatius
Origin: Introduced

• ssp. bulbosum

• ssp. elatius

Artemisia absinthium
Origin: Introduced

Artemisia annua
Origin: Introduced

Artemisia arbuscula
Origin: Native

• ssp. arbuscula

Artemisia biennis
Origin: Native? Disputed native (BC) or introduced (Chambers and Sundberg 2000)

Artemisia campestris
Origin: Native

• var. borealis

• var. scouleriana

• var. wormskioldii

Artemisia cana
Origin: Native

• ssp. bolanderi

Artemisia douglasiana
Origin: Native

Artemisia dracunculus
Origin: Native

Artemisia frigida
Origin: Native

Artemisia furcata
Origin: Native

Artemisia ludoviciana
Origin: Native

• ssp. candicans

• ssp. incompta

• ssp. lindleyana

• ssp. ludoviciana

Artemisia michauxiana
Origin: Native

Artemisia norvegica
Origin: Native

• ssp. saxatilis

Artemisia rigida
Origin: Native

Artemisia spiciformis
Origin: Native

Artemisia stelleriana
Origin: Introduced

Artemisia suksdorfii
Origin: Native

Artemisia tilesii
Origin: Native

Artemisia tridentata
Origin: Native

• ssp. tridentata

• ssp. vaseyana

• ssp. wyomingensis

Artemisia tripartita
Origin: Native

• ssp. tripartita

Artemisia vulgaris
Origin: Introduced

Arum italicum
Distribution: Known from lowlands west of Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Introduced from Europe

• ssp. italicum

Aruncus dioicus
Origin: Native

• var. acuminatus

Asarum caudatum
Origin: Native

Asclepias cryptoceras
Origin: Native

Asclepias fascicularis
Origin: Native

Asclepias incarnata
Origin: Introduced?

Asclepias speciosa
Origin: Native

Askellia pygmaea
Origin: Native

Asparagus officinalis
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Asperugo procumbens
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Aspidotis densa
Origin: Native

Asplenium scolopendrium
Origin: Introduced

• var. scolopendrium

Asplenium trichomanes
Distribution: Occurring chiefly west of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Native

• ssp. quadrivalens

• ssp. trichomanes

Asplenium viride
Origin: Native

Astragalus agrestis
Origin: Native

Astragalus alpinus
Origin: Native

• var. alpinus

Astragalus arrectus
Origin: Native

Astragalus arthurii
Origin: Native

Astragalus asotinensis
Origin: Native

Astragalus australis
Origin: Native

• var. cottonii

Astragalus beckwithii
Origin: Native

• var. weiserensis

Astragalus canadensis
Origin: Native

• var. brevidens

• var. canadensis

• var. mortonii

Astragalus caricinus
Origin: Native

Astragalus cicer
Origin: Introduced from Old World

Astragalus collinus
Origin: Native

• var. collinus

Astragalus columbianus
Origin: Native

Astragalus conjunctus
Origin: Native

• var. rickardii

Astragalus cusickii
Origin: Native

• var. cusickii

Astragalus diaphanus
Origin: Native

Astragalus eucosmus
Origin: Native

Astragalus falcatus
Origin: Introduced

Astragalus filipes
Origin: Native

Astragalus geyeri
Origin: Native

• var. geyeri

Astragalus hoodianus
Origin: Native

Astragalus howellii
Origin: Native

Astragalus inflexus
Origin: Native

Astragalus kentrophyta
Origin: Native

• var. douglasii

Astragalus laxmannii
Origin: Native

• var. robustior

Astragalus leibergii
Origin: Native

Astragalus lentiginosus
Origin: Native

• var. lentiginosus

Astragalus lyallii
Origin: Native

Astragalus microcystis
Origin: Native

Astragalus misellus
Origin: Native

• var. pauper

Astragalus miser
Origin: Native

• var. miser

• var. serotinus

Astragalus pulsiferae
Origin: Native

• var. suksdorfii

Astragalus purshii
Origin: Native

• var. glareosus

• var. purshii

• var. tinctus

Astragalus reventiformis
Origin: Native

Astragalus reventus
Origin: Native

Astragalus riparius
Origin: Native

Astragalus robbinsii
Origin: Native

• var. minor

Astragalus sclerocarpus
Origin: Native

Astragalus sheldonii
Origin: Native

Astragalus sinuatus
Origin: Native

Astragalus spaldingii
Origin: Native

Astragalus speirocarpus
Origin: Native

Astragalus succumbens
Origin: Native

Astragalus tenellus
Origin: Native

Astragalus tweedyi
Origin: Native

Astragalus whitneyi
Origin: Native

• var. sonneanus

Athyrium distentifolium
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Native

• ssp. americanum

Athyrium filix-femina
Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington;
Origin: Native

• ssp. cyclosorum

Athysanus pusillus
Origin: Native

Atocion armeria
Origin: Introduced

Atriplex argentea
Origin: Native

• var. argentea

Atriplex canescens
Origin: Native

• var. canescens

Atriplex dioica
Origin: Native

Atriplex gardneri
Origin: Native

• var. falcata

Atriplex gmelinii
Origin: Native

• var. gmelinii

Atriplex heterosperma
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Atriplex hortensis
Origin: Introduced from Asia

Atriplex littoralis
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Atriplex longipes
Origin: Introduced

Atriplex oblongifolia
Origin: Introduced from Europe

Atriplex patula
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Atriplex prostrata
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Atriplex rosea
Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Atriplex semibaccata
Origin: Introduced from Australia

Atriplex truncata
Origin: Native

Atropa belladonna
Origin: Introduced

Aubrieta deltoidea
Origin: Introduced

Aucuba japonica
Origin: Introduced

Avena barbata
Origin: Introduced

Avena fatua
Origin: Introduced

Avena sativa
Origin: Introduced

Azolla filiculoides
Origin: Native

Azolla microphylla
Origin: Native