slipper type flower/paph.

[Ed b]

While working on a ranch in the snake river area of Oregon, I came across this flower by a mountain stream.
The picture is not very clear as I was on a horse and we were gathering cows. The flowers were pure white about 3/4" tall to 1" at an elevation between3,000 -3,500 ft.As can be seen they were in full sun in this valley at about 1:30 in the afternoon.July or August of 2004
Can anyone identify?

[PaphMadMan]

It isn't any type of orchid. I'm almost certain it is some type of legume - the foliage reminds me of some in genus Vicia or Baptisia but there are certainly other possibilities. Many flowers in this family have a vaguely orchid-like appearance including a cupped or inflated lip somewhat like a Paph. I'm not at all familiar with wildfowers of that area and some quick searches didn't find a good match.

[Gin]

I agree not an orchid but a pretty plant . Wish I had a place like that to ride my horse .

[ronaldhanko]

Definitely not an orchid. PMM is right - looks like something in the legume family, probably an Astragalus (locoweed or milkvetch), though it's very hard to tell from the picture. Would suggest A. lentiginosus, the most common in that area (possibly also canadensis, hoodianus, or whitneyi, though the 1st and 3rd of these are fairly uncommon and whitneyi is alpine or sub-alpine - hoodianus is quite common in that area).

[Ed b]

thankyou for the reply
Ed b

[Ed b]

Thanks to all of you for the replies and info.That ranch went from2,500 ft-7,000 ft.and was real pretty.Bear,Elk,and mountain Big Horn Sheep and of course deer,many different birds.
Ed b