Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database


Cistanthe tweedyi (Tweedy's Lewisia, Quill-Leafed Lewisia)

 

Kingdom

 Plantae – Plants

Subkingdom

 Tracheobionta – Vascular plants

Superdivision

 Spermatophyta – Seed plants

Division

 Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants

Class

 Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons

Subclass

 Caryophyllidae

Order

 Caryophyllales

Family

 Portulacaceae – Purslane family

Genus

 Cistanthe Spach -- pussypaws

Species

 Cistanthe tweedyi (A. Gray) Hershkovitz -- Tweedy's pussypaws

When I first met this plant its scientific name was Lewisia tweedyi, commonly called Tweedy's Lewisia. The common name is still valid (as is Tweedy's Pussypaws) but the scientific name is now Cistanthe tweedyii. Native to north-central Washington and into Canada where it grows at low elevations up through Ponderosa Pine sites where it seeks out rocky slopes or crevices that are well-drained.

From the rosette of four to eight inch fleshy leaves which can be up to two inches wide sprout upright flower stems bearing bright salmon to yellow-pink flowers to 3 inches across. The brilliant display rivals any native lewisia.

This genus includes plants commonly known as pussypaws which are small succulent perennials that have bright colored flowers.

Photo below, left from Terry Lillybridge for the US Forest Service. Photo below, right from Magnus Manske.

     
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