The real first flower of spring

--Richard Old photo

This image of the first native wildflower of spring in the Palouse Country show a flower which blooms in the late fall or early winter and survives under the snow to appear in spring.

This photos of Gorman's Lomatium (Lomatium gormanii) were taken Nov. 29 in the Pullman area by Richard Old, Albion area resident.

Old, who advises Washington State University and the University of Idaho on weed control, said the Nov. 29 finding was unusual, but he occasionally has been able to find the flower before Dec. 21.

That qualifies it as the first wildflower of spring which often appears before the first day of winter.

He notes the first sagebrush buttercup, which wins the Gazette's first flower of spring award, normally follows the Gorman by weeks.

The Gorman produces a white flower, and it is normally pollinated by wind.

It does not need the bright Buttercup color and strong scent to attract insects for pollination.

The Gorman wildflower can be found along cuts made for early roads around the county.

Old noted road cuts made in later years attracted weeds.