Oxytropis splendens, July 2, 2021
Common & scientific name
Showy locoweed, Oxytropis splendens
Family
Pea, Fabaceae
Location
South Fork Lake Creek, 10,400’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Showy, indeed! Covered in long, white hairs, the plant takes on a silvery appearance, which contrasts with its numerous, richly colored flowers, ranging from dark purple to lavender, that sit atop tall, leafless stems that grow in large clusters.
When I first encountered this flower, I thought it might be a cultivated Oxytrope that had been planted and escaped back in the Hotel Interlaken days, as I had NEVER seen a wildflower in our area quite as large and dramatic as this. Alas, it IS a native, one you won’t see on the west side of the Pass, and worth a trip all by itself to the south side of Twin Lakes (you can also see it up South Fork Lake Creek meadows and alongside Highway 82!