Grass Widow

This handsome native purple wildflower is often among the first to bloom in March. Large colonies of Grass Widow (Olsynium douglasii)  can cover damp grassy areas that will completely dry up in the summer. They grow about six inches high, with blooms that are about an inch across. They can be widespread, growing in nearly every county in Oregon!

These colorful plants are members of the Iris (Iridaceae) family and are usually associated with oak woodlands. They can form large colonies, given the right conditions. At Rowena there were multiple colonies spread all over mounds and flat areas.

As to the common name, Grass Widow, I scoured the Internet to find the history. There are a couple of persistent tales, or possible theories given to the name. Both are rather sexist though, so suffice to say the name may have something to do with an abandoned mistress. I couldn't quite follow the logic of these accounts. There are two other varieties known in Oregon, but the most common ones shown here are named after David Douglas, the explorer who spent a few years traveling around the Northwest in the early 1800's.

We found abundant Grass Widows blooming on the Rowena Plateau, at the Tom McCall Nature Preserve (3/13/2014), and some across the river along the Lyle Cherry Orchard hike.

On the Rowena Plateau

There are typically on or two flowers per stalk.

Looking east, along the edge of the plateau.

Among the thousands of others, here's one without pigment.!

A solo widow in the rocks.

On the Cherry Orchard trail in WA.