[The Evening-primrose Family West of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Enchanter's Nightshade , Small Enchanter's Nightshade

Circaea alpina ssp. pacifica

Synonyms: Circaea alpina, Circaea alpina ssp. alpina, Circaea alpina var. pacifica, Circaea pacifica

Enchanter's nightshade beginning to bloom along the McCord Creek Trail in the western Columbia River Gorge.......May 30, 2009.

Characteristics:

Enchanter's Nightshade is a small, weedy perennial wildflower. It ranges in size from 10 to 50 cm tall. The leaf blades are ovate to ovate-heart-shaped with either entire to dentate margins.

The inflorescence is a loose raceme with tiny, white, four-petaled flowers. It readily self-seeds and hence rates as a pesky weed in the natural garden.

Habitat:

Enchanter's Nightshade is a wildflower of cool, damp woods.

Range:

Enchanter's Nightshade is found form Alaska south to California, and eastward to Newfoundland and south to Colorado and Georgia. In the southern extent of its range, it is primarily found in mountainous areas.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the Columbia River and 4000' from just east of Troutdale, OR and east to about Lyle, WA.

Enchanter's nightshade from Mt. Adams, WA.

Paul Slichter