Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley

Blue Columbinen.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 moschatellina muskroot Adoxaceae
Allium geyeri Geyer’s onion Alliaceae (Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae)
Angelica grayi  Gray’s angelica Apiaceae
Ligusticum tenuifolium Idaho licorice-root Apiaceae
Oreoxis alpina ssp. alpina  alpine oreoxis, alpine parsley Apiaceae
Pseudocymopterus montanus  alpine springparsley, mountain springparsley Apiaceae
Achillea millefolium var. alpicola Garrett common yarrow Asteraceae
Agoseris aurantiaca orange agoseris Asteraceae
Agoseris glauca var. glauca  pale agoseris Asteraceae
Antennaria anaphaloides pearly pussy-toes Asteraceae
Antennaria media Rocky Mountain pussy-toes Asteraceae
Antennaria rosea  rosy pussy-toes Asteraceae
Antennaria umbrinella umber pussy-toes, mountain pussytoes Asteraceae
Arnica cordifolia heartleaf arnica Asteraceae
Arnica rydbergii  Rydberg’s arnica Asteraceae
Artemisia arctica ssp. arctica boreal sagebrush, arctic sagewort, Norway sagewort, mountain sagewort Asteraceae
Artemisia campestris var. purshii field sagewort, boreal sagewort Asteraceae
Artemisia pattersonii  Patterson’s wormwood, Patterson’s sagewort, alpine sagewort Asteraceae
Artemisia scopulorum  alpine sagebrush, Rocky Mountain sagewort, dwarf sagewort Asteraceae
Cirsium scopulorum  mountain thistle, Rocky Mountain thistle, alpine thistle Asteraceae
Crepis runcinata ssp. runcinata  fiddleleaf hawksbeard Asteraceae
Erigeron flagellaris  trailing fleabane Asteraceae
Erigeron glacialis glacial daisy Asteraceae
Erigeron melanocephalus blackhead fleabane, blackheaded daisy, blackhead daisy1 Asteraceae
Erigeron pinnatisectus featherleaf fleabane, pinnate-leaf daisy, featherleaf daisy1 Asteraceae
Erigeron simplex onestem fleabane, one-flower daisy, Rocky Mountain alpine daisy Asteraceae
Heterotheca villosa hairy false golden aster Asteraceae
Hieracium gracile wooly hawkweed Asteraceae
Packera cana woolly groundsel Asteraceae
Packera crocata saffron ragwort, saffron groundsel Asteraceae
Senecio amplectens var. holmii Holm’s ragwort, alpine groundsel Asteraceae
Senecio fremontii var. blitoides dwarf mountain ragwort, Fremont’s groundsel Asteraceae
Senecio taraxacoides dandelion ragwort, dandelion groundsel Asteraceae
Senecio triangularis arrowleaf ragwort Asteraceae
Solidago multiradiata Rocky Mountain goldenrod Asteraceae
Solidago simplex var. simplex  Mt. Albert goldenrod Asteraceae
Taraxacum officinale ssp. ceratophorum common dandelion Asteraceae
Tetraneuris acaulis var. caespitosa caespitose four-nerve daisy, goldflower, old woman of the mountain  Asteraceae
Tetraneuris grandiflora graylocks four-nerve daisy, old man of the mountain, alpine sunflower Asteraceae
Tonestus lyallii Lyall's goldenweed Asteraceae
Tonestus pygmaeus pygmy goldenweed, dwarf goldenweed Asteraceae
Betula glandulosa resin birch Betulaceae
Betula occidentalis water birch Betulaceae
Eritrichium nanum  alpine forget-me-not Boraginaceae
Mertensia ciliata tall fringed bluebells, broad-leaf bluebells; streamside bluebells1 Boraginaceae
Mertensia lanceolata var. lanceolata prairie bluebells Boraginaceae
Mertensia lanceolata var. nivalis greenleaf chiming bells, green bluebells, snowy bluebells Boraginaceae
Cardamine cordifolia heartleaf bittercress Brassicaceae
Draba aurea golden draba Brassicaceae
Draba cana cushion draba Brassicaceae
Draba crassa thickleaf draba Brassicaceae
Draba crassifolia snowbed draba Brassicaceae
Draba exunguiculata clawless draba Brassicaceae
Draba fladnizensis Austrian draba, arctic draba Brassicaceae
Draba lonchocarpa lancepod draba, lancefruit draba Brassicaceae
Draba streptocarpa  pretty draba, twisted-fruit draba Brassicaceae
Erysimum capitatum var. purshii Pursh’s wallflower Brassicaceae
Noccaea fendleri ssp. glauca alpine pennycress, mountain pennycress, mountain candytuft Brassicaceae
Rorippa alpina alpine yellowcress Brassicaceae
Campanula rotundifolia  bluebell bellflower, mountain harebell, mountain bellflower Campanulaceae
Campanula species   Campanulaceae
Campanula uniflora arctic bellflower, alpine harebell Campanulaceae
Linnaea borealis twinflower Caprifoliaceae
Arenaria fendleri var. tweedyi Tweedy’s sandwort, Fendler’s sandwort Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum field chickweed, prairie mouse-ear Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium beeringianum ssp. earlei Bering chickweed, alpine chickweed Caryophyllaceae
Cerastium species   Caryophyllaceae
Minuartia obtusiloba alpine sandwort, twinflower sandwort, arctic sandwort Caryophyllaceae
Minuartia rubella beautiful sandwort, boreal sandwort Caryophyllaceae
Paronychia pulvinata Rocky Mountain nailwort, alpine nailwort Caryophyllaceae
Sagina saginoides arctic pearlwort Caryophyllaceae
Silene acaulis ssp. subacaulescens moss campion Caryophyllaceae
Silene uralensis ssp. montana mountain campion Caryophyllaceae
Stellaria longipes ssp. longipes long-stalked starwort Caryophyllaceae
Stellaria species   Caryophyllaceae
Stellaria umbellata umbrella starwort, umbellate starwort Caryophyllaceae
Rhodiola integrifolia king's crown, ledge stonecrop Crassulaceae
Rhodiola rhodantha queen's crown, rose crown, redpod stonecrop Crassulaceae
Sedum lanceolatum yellow stonecrop , spearleaf stonecrop Crassulaceae
Juniperus communis common juniper Cupressaceae
Carex albonigra black and white sedge Cyperaceae
Carex aquatilis var. stans water sedge Cyperaceae
Carex arapahoensis Arapaho sedge Cyperaceae
Carex capillaris hair-like sedge Cyperaceae
Carex capitata ssp. arctogena capitate sedge Cyperaceae
Carex ebenea ebony sedge Cyperaceae
Carex elynoides blackroot sedge Cyperaceae
Carex haydeniana cloud sedge Cyperaceae
Carex heteroneura var. chalciolepis Holm's sedge Cyperaceae
Carex illota sheep sedge Cyperaceae
Carex lachenalii two-tipped sedge Cyperaceae
Carex microglochin few-seeded bog sedge Cyperaceae
Carex misandra short-leaved sedge Cyperaceae
Carex nardina var. hepburnii Hepburn’s sedge Cyperaceae
Carex nelsonii Nelson’s sedge Cyperaceae
Carex nigricans black alpine sedge Cyperaceae
Carex nova black sedge Cyperaceae
Carex perglobosa globe sedge Cyperaceae
Carex phaeocephala dunhead sedge Cyperaceae
Carex praeceptorum early sedge Cyperaceae
Carex pyrenaica  Pyrenees sedge, Pyrenean sedge Cyperaceae
Carex rossii Ross’ sedge Cyperaceae
Carex rupestris var. drummondiana Drummond’s sedge Cyperaceae
Carex scopulorum var. scopulorum mountain sedge Cyperaceae
Carex siccata  dryspike sedge Cyperaceae
Carex vernacula native sedge Cyperaceae
Kobresia myosuroides Bellardi bog sedge Cyperaceae
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi kinnikinnick, manzanita Ericaceae
Kalmia microphylla alpine laurel Ericaceae
Vaccinium caespitosum dwarf bilberry Ericaceae
Vaccinium myrtillus whortleberry Ericaceae
Vaccinium scoparium grouse whortleberry Ericaceae
Trifolium dasyphyllum alpine clover Fabaceae
Trifolium nanum dwarf clover Fabaceae
Trifolium parryi ssp. parryi Parry’s clover Fabaceae
Frasera speciosa elkweed Gentianaceae
Gentiana algida arctic gentian, whitish gentian Gentianaceae
Gentiana parryi Parry’s gentian Gentianaceae
Gentiana prostrata pygmy gentian Gentianaceae
Gentianella amarella ssp. acuta autumn dwarf gentian, Northern gentian Gentianaceae
Gentianella amarella ssp. heterosepala autumn dwarf gentian, Northern gentian Gentianaceae
Gentianella tenella ssp. tenella Dane's dwarf gentian, Lapland gentain Gentianaceae
Gentianopsis barbellata perennial fringed gentian Gentianaceae
Swertia perennis felwort Gentianaceae
Phacelia sericea var. sericea silky phacelia Hydrophyllaceae
Juncus biglumis two-flowered rush Juncaceae
Juncus castaneus chestnut rush Juncaceae
Juncus drummondii Drummond’s rush Juncaceae
Juncus mertensianus Merten's rush Juncaceae
Juncus parryi Parry's rush Juncaceae
Juncus triglumis three-hulled rush Juncaceae
Luzula spicata spiked woodrush Juncaceae
Lloydia serotina var. serotina alpine lily, common alplily Liliaceae
Zigadenus elegans (ssp. elegans) mountain deathcamas Melanthiaceae (Liliaceae)
Claytonia megarhiza alpine springbeauty, big-rooted springbeauty Montiaceae1,3, Portulacaceae7
Lewisia pygmaea var. pygmaea alpine lewisia, pygmy bitterroot Montiaceae1,3, Portulacaceae7
Chamerion angustifolium fireweed Onagraceae
Chamerion latifolium dwarf fireweed Onagraceae
Epilobium anagallidifolium pimpernel willow herb, alpine willowweed Onagraceae
Castilleja occidentalis western Indian paintbrush, western yellow paintbrush Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Castilleja puberula shortflower Indian paintbrush, alpine paintbrush Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Catilleja rhexifolia red Indian paintbrush  
Pedicularis groenlandica elephanthead lousewort, elephant’s head Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Pedicularis parryi Parry’s lousewort Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Pedicularis racemosa ssp. alba sickletop lousewort Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Pedicularis sudetica ssp. scopulorum sudetic lousewort, alpine lousewort Orobanchaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Papaver radicatum ssp. Kluanensis alpine poppy, rooted poppy Papaveraceae
Abies lasiocarpa subalpine fir Pinaceae
Picea engelmannii Engelmann spruce Pinaceae
Pinus contorta lodgepole pine Pinaceae
Pinus flexilis limber pine Pinaceae
Besseya alpina alpine kittentails, alpine besseya Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Chionophila jamesii Rocky Mountain snowlover, James' snowlover Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Penstemon procerus littleflower penstemon Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Penstemon whippleanus Whipple’s penstemon Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Veronica wormskjoldii var. wormskjoldii American alpine speedwell, alpine speedwell Plantaginaceae (Scrophulariaceae)
Agrostis humilis alpine bentgrass Poaceae
Agrostis mertensii northern bentgrass Poaceae
Agrostis variabilis  mountain bentgrass Poaceae
Calamagrostis canadensis bluejoint Poaceae
Calamagrostis purpurascens purple reedgrass Poaceae
Danthonia intermedia timber oatgrass Poaceae
Deschampsia caespitosa tufted hairgrass Poaceae
Elymus scribneri spreading wheatgrass Poaceae
Elymus trachycaulus slender wheatgrass, bearded wheatgrass Poaceae
Festuca baffinensis Baffin fescue Poaceae
Festuca brachyphylla alpine fescue, Colorado fescue, shortleaf fescue Poaceae
Festuca rubra red fescue Poaceae
Helictotrichon mortonianum Morton’s alpine oatgrass Poaceae
Phippsia algida   Poaceae
Phleum alpinum alpine timothy Poaceae
Phleum pratense timothy Poaceae
Poa abbreviata ssp. pattersonii Patterson’s bluegrass Poaceae
Poa alpina ssp. alpina alpine bluegrass Poaceae
Poa arctica ssp. grayana arctic bluegrass Poaceae
Poa cusickii ssp. epilis Cusick's bluegrass Poaceae
Poa fendleriana muttongrass Poaceae
Poa glauca ssp. rupicola timberline bluegrass Poaceae
Poa lettermanii Letterman's bluegrass Poaceae
Poa pratensis ssp. pratensis  Kentucky bluegrass Poaceae
Poa reflexa nodding bluegrass Poaceae
Poa wheeleri Wheeler's bluegrass Poaceae
Trisetum spicatum spike trisetum Poaceae
Phlox pulvinata cushion phlox Polemoniaceae
Polemonium pulcherrimum ssp. delicatum Jacob’s ladder Polemoniaceae
Polemonium viscosum sky pilot, sticky polemonium Polemoniaceae
 Bistorta vivipara alpine bistort Polygonaceae
Bistorta bistortoides American bistort Polygonaceae
Oxyria digyna alpine mountain-sorrel, alpine sorrel Polygonaceae
Polygonum douglasii ssp. douglasii Douglas’ knotweed Polygonaceae
Androsace septentrionalis pygmyflower rockjasmine, rock primrose Primulaceae
Dodecatheon pulchellum var. pulchellum darkthroat shooting star Primulaceae
Primula angustifolia alpine primrose Primulaceae
Primula parryi Parry’s primrose Primulaceae
Anemone patens var. multifida pasque flower, cutleaf anemone Ranunculaceae
Aquilegia coerulea var. coerulea Colorado blue columbine Ranunculaceae
Aquilegia saximontana Rocky Mountain blue columbine Ranunculaceae
Caltha leptosepala white marsh marigold, marsh marigold Ranunculaceae
Ranunculus adoneus alpine buttercup, snow buttercup Ranunculaceae
Ranunculus eschscholtzii var. eschscholtzii Eschscholtz’s buttercup, subalpine buttercup Ranunculaceae
Ranunculus pygmaeus pygmy buttercup Ranunculaceae
Trollius albiflorus white globeflower, American globeflower Ranunculaceae
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda shrubby cinquefoil Roseaceae
Dryas octopetala ssp. hookeriana mountain dryad, Hooker’s mountain-avens Roseaceae
Geum rossii var. turbinatum Ross’ avens, alpine avens Roseaceae
Potentilla concinna elegant cinquefoil, early cinquefoil Roseaceae
Potentilla diversifolia varileaf cinquefoil, blueleaf cinquefoil Roseaceae
Potentilla gracilis slender cinquefoil Roseaceae
Potentilla nivea snow cinquefoil Roseaceae
Potentilla ovina sheep cinquefoil Roseaceae
Potentilla rubricaulis Rocky Mountain cinquefoil Roseaceae
Potentilla uniflora one-flower cinquefoil Roseaceae
Rubus idaeus ssp. melanolasius grayleaf red raspberry Roseaceae
Sibbaldia procumbens creeping sibbaldia Roseaceae
Salix glauca ssp. glauca var. villosa  grayleaf willow Salicaceae
Salix nivalis snow willow Salicaceae
Salix petrophila alpine willow Salicaceae
Salix planifolia planeleaf willow, diamondleaf willow Salicaceae
Chrysosplenium tetrandrum northern golden saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Heuchera parvifolia var. nivalis little-leaf alumroot, alpine alumroot Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana spotted saxifrage, dotted saxifrage, matted saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga caespitosa tufted alpine saxifrage, tufted saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga cernua nodding saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga chrysantha golden saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga flagellaris ssp. crandallii stoloniferous saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga odontoloma brook saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga rhomboidea snowball saxifrage, diamondleaf saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Saxifraga rivularis weak saxifrage Saxifragaceae
Valeriana edulis var. edulis tobacco root, edible valerian Valerinaceae
Viola adunca hookedspur violet, hook-spurred violet, mountain blue violet Violaceae
Viola biflora arctic yellow violet Violaceae
Botrychium hesperium western moonwort Ophioglossaceae
Cryptogramma acrostichoides American rockbrake Cheilanthes
Cystopteris fragilis brittle bladder fern Dryopteridaceae