Plant Species Composition

Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley

Blue Columbine
n.b. this list is primarily alpine, and does not include all subalpine and montane species

The original iteration of this file was developed from materials provided to Susan Kindig by Marilyn Walker in late March/early April 1993. Those materials were (1) a Saddle/Martinelli site species list developed from species that were identified during LTER years and (2) Komarkova (1979).  Three additions to the list were supplied by Terry Theodose in 1994. Organization of species by families was accomplished by Marko Spasovic, UC Irvine, August 2005.  An update and reordering, with the addition of common names, was done by Jane Smith in 2017.

Species

Common Name

Family

Adoxa moschatellinamuskrootAdoxaceae
Allium geyeriGeyer’s onionAlliaceae (Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae)
Angelica grayi Gray’s angelicaApiaceae
Ligusticum tenuifoliumIdaho licorice-rootApiaceae
Oreoxis alpina ssp. alpina alpine oreoxis, alpine parsleyApiaceae
Pseudocymopterus montanus alpine springparsley, mountain springparsleyApiaceae
Achillea millefolium var. alpicolaGarrett common yarrowAsteraceae
Agoseris aurantiacaorange agoserisAsteraceae
Agoseris glauca var. glauca pale agoserisAsteraceae
Antennaria anaphaloidespearly pussy-toesAsteraceae
Antennaria mediaRocky Mountain pussy-toesAsteraceae
Antennaria rosea rosy pussy-toesAsteraceae
Antennaria umbrinellaumber pussy-toes, mountain pussytoesAsteraceae
Arnica cordifoliaheartleaf arnicaAsteraceae
Arnica rydbergii Rydberg’s arnicaAsteraceae
Artemisia arctica ssp. arcticaboreal sagebrush, arctic sagewort, Norway sagewort, mountain sagewortAsteraceae
Artemisia campestris var. purshiifield sagewort, boreal sagewortAsteraceae
Artemisia pattersonii Patterson’s wormwood, Patterson’s sagewort, alpine sagewortAsteraceae
Artemisia scopulorum alpine sagebrush, Rocky Mountain sagewort, dwarf sagewortAsteraceae
Cirsium scopulorum mountain thistle, Rocky Mountain thistle, alpine thistleAsteraceae
Crepis runcinata ssp. runcinata fiddleleaf hawksbeardAsteraceae
Erigeron flagellaris trailing fleabaneAsteraceae
Erigeron glacialisglacial daisyAsteraceae
Erigeron melanocephalusblackhead fleabane, blackheaded daisy, blackhead daisy1Asteraceae
Erigeron pinnatisectusfeatherleaf fleabane, pinnate-leaf daisy, featherleaf daisy1Asteraceae
Erigeron simplexonestem fleabane, one-flower daisy, Rocky Mountain alpine daisyAsteraceae
Heterotheca villosahairy false golden asterAsteraceae
Hieracium gracilewooly hawkweedAsteraceae
Packera canawoolly groundselAsteraceae
Packera crocatasaffron ragwort, saffron groundselAsteraceae
Senecio amplectens var. holmiiHolm’s ragwort, alpine groundselAsteraceae
Senecio fremontii var. blitoidesdwarf mountain ragwort, Fremont’s groundselAsteraceae
Senecio taraxacoidesdandelion ragwort, dandelion groundselAsteraceae
Senecio triangularisarrowleaf ragwortAsteraceae
Solidago multiradiataRocky Mountain goldenrodAsteraceae
Solidago simplex var. simplex Mt. Albert goldenrodAsteraceae
Taraxacum officinale ssp. ceratophorumcommon dandelionAsteraceae
Tetraneuris acaulis var. caespitosacaespitose four-nerve daisy, goldflower, old woman of the mountain Asteraceae
Tetraneuris grandifloragraylocks four-nerve daisy, old man of the mountain, alpine sunflowerAsteraceae
Tonestus lyalliiLyall's goldenweedAsteraceae
Tonestus pygmaeuspygmy goldenweed, dwarf goldenweedAsteraceae
Betula glandulosaresin birchBetulaceae
Betula occidentaliswater birchBetulaceae
Eritrichium nanum alpine forget-me-notBoraginaceae
Mertensia ciliatatall fringed bluebells, broad-leaf bluebells; streamside bluebells1Boraginaceae
Mertensia lanceolata var. lanceolataprairie bluebellsBoraginaceae
Mertensia lanceolata var. nivalisgreenleaf chiming bells, green bluebells, snowy bluebellsBoraginaceae
Cardamine cordifoliaheartleaf bittercressBrassicaceae
Draba aureagolden drabaBrassicaceae
Draba canacushion drabaBrassicaceae
Draba crassathickleaf drabaBrassicaceae
Draba crassifoliasnowbed drabaBrassicaceae
Draba exunguiculataclawless drabaBrassicaceae
Draba fladnizensisAustrian draba, arctic drabaBrassicaceae
Draba lonchocarpalancepod draba, lancefruit drabaBrassicaceae
Draba streptocarpa pretty draba, twisted-fruit drabaBrassicaceae
Erysimum capitatum var. purshiiPursh’s wallflowerBrassicaceae
Noccaea fendleri ssp. glaucaalpine pennycress, mountain pennycress, mountain candytuftBrassicaceae
Rorippa alpinaalpine yellowcressBrassicaceae
Campanula rotundifolia bluebell bellflower, mountain harebell, mountain bellflowerCampanulaceae
Campanula species Campanulaceae
Campanula unifloraarctic bellflower, alpine harebellCampanulaceae
Linnaea borealistwinflowerCaprifoliaceae
Arenaria fendleri var. tweedyiTweedy’s sandwort, Fendler’s sandwortCaryophyllaceae
Cerastium arvense ssp. strictumfield chickweed, prairie mouse-earCaryophyllaceae
Cerastium beeringianum ssp. earleiBering chickweed, alpine chickweedCaryophyllaceae
Cerastium species Caryophyllaceae
Minuartia obtusilobaalpine sandwort, twinflower sandwort, arctic sandwortCaryophyllaceae
Minuartia rubellabeautiful sandwort, boreal sandwortCaryophyllaceae
Paronychia pulvinataRocky Mountain nailwort, alpine nailwortCaryophyllaceae
Sagina saginoidesarctic pearlwortCaryophyllaceae
Silene acaulis ssp. subacaulescensmoss campionCaryophyllaceae
Silene uralensis ssp. montanamountain campionCaryophyllaceae
Stellaria longipes ssp. longipeslong-stalked starwortCaryophyllaceae
Stellaria species Caryophyllaceae
Stellaria umbellataumbrella starwort, umbellate starwortCaryophyllaceae
Rhodiola integrifoliaking's crown, ledge stonecropCrassulaceae
Rhodiola rhodanthaqueen's crown, rose crown, redpod stonecropCrassulaceae
Sedum lanceolatumyellow stonecrop , spearleaf stonecropCrassulaceae
Juniperus communiscommon juniperCupressaceae
Carex albonigrablack and white sedgeCyperaceae
Carex aquatilis var. stanswater sedgeCyperaceae
Carex arapahoensisArapaho sedgeCyperaceae
Carex capillarishair-like sedgeCyperaceae
Carex capitata ssp. arctogenacapitate sedgeCyperaceae
Carex ebeneaebony sedgeCyperaceae
Carex elynoidesblackroot sedgeCyperaceae
Carex haydenianacloud sedgeCyperaceae
Carex heteroneura var. chalciolepisHolm's sedgeCyperaceae
Carex illotasheep sedgeCyperaceae
Carex lachenaliitwo-tipped sedgeCyperaceae
Carex microglochinfew-seeded bog sedgeCyperaceae
Carex misandrashort-leaved sedgeCyperaceae
Carex nardina var. hepburniiHepburn’s sedgeCyperaceae
Carex nelsoniiNelson’s sedgeCyperaceae
Carex nigricansblack alpine sedgeCyperaceae
Carex novablack sedgeCyperaceae
Carex perglobosaglobe sedgeCyperaceae
Carex phaeocephaladunhead sedgeCyperaceae
Carex praeceptorumearly sedgeCyperaceae
Carex pyrenaica Pyrenees sedge, Pyrenean sedgeCyperaceae
Carex rossiiRoss’ sedgeCyperaceae
Carex rupestris var. drummondianaDrummond’s sedgeCyperaceae
Carex scopulorum var. scopulorummountain sedgeCyperaceae
Carex siccata dryspike sedgeCyperaceae
Carex vernaculanative sedgeCyperaceae
Kobresia myosuroidesBellardi bog sedgeCyperaceae
Arctostaphylos uva-ursikinnikinnick, manzanitaEricaceae
Kalmia microphyllaalpine laurelEricaceae
Vaccinium caespitosumdwarf bilberryEricaceae
Vaccinium myrtilluswhortleberryEricaceae
Vaccinium scopariumgrouse whortleberryEricaceae
Trifolium dasyphyllumalpine cloverFabaceae
Trifolium nanumdwarf cloverFabaceae
Trifolium parryi ssp. parryiParry’s cloverFabaceae
Frasera speciosaelkweedGentianaceae
Gentiana algidaarctic gentian, whitish gentianGentianaceae
Gentiana parryiParry’s gentianGentianaceae
Gentiana prostratapygmy gentianGentianaceae
Gentianella amarella ssp. acutaautumn dwarf gentian, Northern gentianGentianaceae
Gentianella amarella ssp. heterosepalaautumn dwarf gentian, Northern gentianGentianaceae
Gentianella tenella ssp. tenellaDane's dwarf gentian, Lapland gentainGentianaceae
Gentianopsis barbellataperennial fringed gentianGentianaceae
Swertia perennisfelwortGentianaceae
Phacelia sericea var. sericeasilky phaceliaHydrophyllaceae
Juncus biglumistwo-flowered rushJuncaceae
Juncus castaneuschestnut rushJuncaceae
Juncus drummondiiDrummond’s rushJuncaceae
Juncus mertensianusMerten's rushJuncaceae
Juncus parryiParry's rushJuncaceae
Juncus triglumisthree-hulled rushJuncaceae
Luzula spicataspiked woodrushJuncaceae
Lloydia serotina var. serotinaalpine lily, common alplilyLiliaceae
Zigadenus elegans (ssp. elegans)mountain deathcamasMelanthiaceae (Liliaceae)
Claytonia megarhizaalpine springbeauty, big-rooted springbeautyMontiaceae1,3, Portulacaceae7
Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaeaalpine lewisia, pygmy bitterrootMontiaceae1,3, Portulacaceae7
Chamerion angustifoliumfireweedOnagraceae
Chamerion latifoliumdwarf fireweedOnagraceae
Epilobium anagallidifoliumpimpernel willow herb, alpine willowweedOnagraceae
Castilleja occidentaliswestern Indian paintbrush, western yellow paintbrushOrobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Castilleja puberulashortflower Indian paintbrush, alpine paintbrushOrobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Catilleja rhexifoliared Indian paintbrush 
Pedicularis groenlandicaelephanthead lousewort, elephant’s headOrobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Pedicularis parryiParry’s lousewortOrobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Pedicularis racemosa ssp. albasickletop lousewortOrobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Pedicularis sudetica ssp. scopulorumsudetic lousewort, alpine lousewortOrobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Papaver radicatum ssp. Kluanensisalpine poppy, rooted poppyPapaveraceae
Abies lasiocarpasubalpine firPinaceae
Picea engelmanniiEngelmann sprucePinaceae
Pinus contortalodgepole pinePinaceae
Pinus flexilislimber pinePinaceae
Besseya alpinaalpine kittentails, alpine besseyaPlantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Chionophila jamesiiRocky Mountain snowlover, James' snowloverPlantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Penstemon proceruslittleflower penstemonPlantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Penstemon whippleanusWhipple’s penstemonPlantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Veronica wormskjoldii var. wormskjoldiiAmerican alpine speedwell, alpine speedwellPlantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Agrostis humilisalpine bentgrassPoaceae
Agrostis mertensiinorthern bentgrassPoaceae
Agrostis variabilis mountain bentgrassPoaceae
Calamagrostis canadensisbluejointPoaceae
Calamagrostis purpurascenspurple reedgrassPoaceae
Danthonia intermediatimber oatgrassPoaceae
Deschampsia caespitosatufted hairgrassPoaceae
Elymus scribnerispreading wheatgrassPoaceae
Elymus trachycaulusslender wheatgrass, bearded wheatgrassPoaceae
Festuca baffinensisBaffin fescuePoaceae
Festuca brachyphyllaalpine fescue, ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ fescue, shortleaf fescuePoaceae
Festuca rubrared fescuePoaceae
Helictotrichon mortonianumMorton’s alpine oatgrassPoaceae
Phippsia algida Poaceae
Phleum alpinumalpine timothyPoaceae
Phleum pratensetimothyPoaceae
Poa abbreviata ssp. pattersoniiPatterson’s bluegrassPoaceae
Poa alpina ssp. alpinaalpine bluegrassPoaceae
Poa arctica ssp. grayanaarctic bluegrassPoaceae
Poa cusickii ssp. epilisCusick's bluegrassPoaceae
Poa fendlerianamuttongrassPoaceae
Poa glauca ssp. rupicolatimberline bluegrassPoaceae
Poa lettermaniiLetterman's bluegrassPoaceae
Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis Kentucky bluegrassPoaceae
Poa reflexanodding bluegrassPoaceae
Poa wheeleriWheeler's bluegrassPoaceae
Trisetum spicatumspike trisetumPoaceae
Phlox pulvinatacushion phloxPolemoniaceae
Polemonium pulcherrimum ssp. delicatumJacob’s ladderPolemoniaceae
Polemonium viscosumsky pilot, sticky polemoniumPolemoniaceae
 Bistorta viviparaalpine bistortPolygonaceae
Bistorta bistortoidesAmerican bistortPolygonaceae
Oxyria digynaalpine mountain-sorrel, alpine sorrelPolygonaceae
Polygonum douglasii ssp. douglasiiDouglas’ knotweedPolygonaceae
Androsace septentrionalispygmyflower rockjasmine, rock primrosePrimulaceae
Dodecatheon pulchellum var. pulchellumdarkthroat shooting starPrimulaceae
Primula angustifoliaalpine primrosePrimulaceae
Primula parryiParry’s primrosePrimulaceae
Anemone patens var. multifidapasque flower, cutleaf anemoneRanunculaceae
Aquilegia coerulea var. coeruleaÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ blue columbineRanunculaceae
Aquilegia saximontanaRocky Mountain blue columbineRanunculaceae
Caltha leptosepalawhite marsh marigold, marsh marigoldRanunculaceae
Ranunculus adoneusalpine buttercup, snow buttercupRanunculaceae
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. eschscholtziiEschscholtz’s buttercup, subalpine buttercupRanunculaceae
Ranunculus pygmaeuspygmy buttercupRanunculaceae
Trollius albifloruswhite globeflower, American globeflowerRanunculaceae
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribundashrubby cinquefoilRoseaceae
Dryas octopetala ssp. hookerianamountain dryad, Hooker’s mountain-avensRoseaceae
Geum rossii var. turbinatumRoss’ avens, alpine avensRoseaceae
Potentilla concinnaelegant cinquefoil, early cinquefoilRoseaceae
Potentilla diversifoliavarileaf cinquefoil, blueleaf cinquefoilRoseaceae
Potentilla gracilisslender cinquefoilRoseaceae
Potentilla niveasnow cinquefoilRoseaceae
Potentilla ovinasheep cinquefoilRoseaceae
Potentilla rubricaulisRocky Mountain cinquefoilRoseaceae
Potentilla unifloraone-flower cinquefoilRoseaceae
Rubus idaeus ssp. melanolasiusgrayleaf red raspberryRoseaceae
Sibbaldia procumbenscreeping sibbaldiaRoseaceae
Salix glauca ssp. glauca var. villosa grayleaf willowSalicaceae
Salix nivalissnow willowSalicaceae
Salix petrophilaalpine willowSalicaceae
Salix planifoliaplaneleaf willow, diamondleaf willowSalicaceae
Chrysosplenium tetrandrumnorthern golden saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Heuchera parvifolia var. nivalislittle-leaf alumroot, alpine alumrootSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontanaspotted saxifrage, dotted saxifrage, matted saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga caespitosatufted alpine saxifrage, tufted saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga cernuanodding saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga chrysanthagolden saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga flagellaris ssp. crandalliistoloniferous saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga odontolomabrook saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga rhomboideasnowball saxifrage, diamondleaf saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Saxifraga rivularisweak saxifrageSaxifragaceae
Valeriana edulis var. edulistobacco root, edible valerianValerinaceae
Viola aduncahookedspur violet, hook-spurred violet, mountain blue violetViolaceae
Viola bifloraarctic yellow violetViolaceae
Botrychium hesperiumwestern moonwortOphioglossaceae
Cryptogramma acrostichoidesAmerican rockbrakeCheilanthes
Cystopteris fragilisbrittle bladder fernDryopteridaceae