plantsarecool's Favorites

The flowering spike shatters (disarticulates) at maturity. Note the one pair of long-awned glumes (one spikelet) at each node.

For additional photos and species diagnosis, see https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/sets/72157687471371286/

If this is indeed P. tanacetifolia, there was WILD variation at this site. This was much whiter and almost 2x bigger than most of the other, blue-flowered individuals. Each type seemed to grow in its own patch, though some people on the trip found some intermediate examples.

See remarks under iNat obs 213068429.

[Note: Larger, higher-res images appear in the companion CalPhotos post here...click the "full size" link above the image thumbnails there, then click the image again after it loads.]

No individuals in flower yet.

Plants scattered along margin of a dry meadow near Dowville West at west end of Huntington Lake, Sierra National Forest, Sierra Nevada, Fresno County, California, USA.

High fire severity area (Creek Fire 2020)

Superficially similar to Hood's sedge, Carex hoodii, in hanging out in small bunches around the edges of the large meadows along the bottom of Lyell Canyon. However, the capitate heads are gynaecandrous, and the perigynia with spongy bases have wings with smooth edges at least along the basal portion and become serrulate distally. The perigynia are not strongly appressed.

Brown sedge is a native perennial bunched sedge common to dry meadows in the mountains. It is superficially similar to Hood's sedge, Carex hoodii, in the dimensions of its capitate heads and perigynia with spongy bases and that are not strongly appressed. However, the capitate heads are gynaecandrous, and the perigynia have smooth edges at least along the basal portion and become serrulate distally.

Flickr album https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/sets/72157696749177320/

E. cicutarium, botrys and brachycarpum are all present on this section of the trail, offering ample comparison. (E. moschatum is far away, one day I'll get all 4 together!). E. cicutarium at top, E. brachycarpum at right, and E. botrys at bottom.

I took this opportunity to study these 3 species, most importantly botrys and brachycarpum, the differences of which are poorly documented. I observed 160 E. brachycarpum, and 242 E. botrys.

I am wondering if this is a Gray Fox or a Kit Fox. Generally, I think it looks more like a Gray, but it does not have a black stripe on the top of the tail which I understand to be a mark for Gray Fox.

Single large tree and a couple of young saplings beneath were observed. Reddish peeling bark around and under tree. This tree stood out as it was the only tree retaining foilage in a forest of Q. kelloggii, C. decurrens, P. lambertiana.

Carex scopulorum often grows in wet meadows (here, along Deer Creek south of Reds Meadow), whereas the closely related Carex kelloggii and Carex aquatilis seem to always grow along the margins of lakes, ponds, and slow-moving water. Note the two style branches.

Mountain sedge is similar to Kellogg's sedge, Carex kelloggii, in having a bunched growth habit and flattish mostly green perigynia that enclose a lenticular achene from which emanates a style with two style branches. Mountain sedge is distinguished by its spikelets that are somewhat congested into a head and inflorescence bracts that don't overtop the inflorescences.

Flickr album https://www.flickr.com/photos/plant_diversity/sets/72157670736451367/

Within a few feet of Allotropa virgata, which is obligately associated with Tricholoma murillianum. Pityopus associates with Tricholoma species. Flowers seem too dense and flat for Pluericospora, which along with Hemitomes, is the only other thing it could be. Plus Pluericospora develops black coloration on leaf tips and on the fruits as well when it starts to dry out. Not observing that here.

gauge plant, Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus, California, White Mountains, Cottonwood Basin, Fishlake Valley drainage, elevation 3051 m (10010 ft).

This species is widespread in mesic to wet sites throughout the mountains and high plains of the western United States and southwestern Canada, up to 3600 meters (12000 feet) elevation. Here in the White Mountains it is near the southwest edge of its range.

Livestock operators sometimes used the onset of flowering in this species to "gauge" when the range was ready for grazing. Ironically, gauge plant itself is toxic to livestock.

Uploaded from my Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127605180@N04/

NMH407

Growing next to fast-moving Salmon Creek, flowing through montane chaparral habitat. On moist northeast-facing slope. Large granitic boulders in and around creek. w/ Quercus sp., Alnus rhombifolia, Toxicodendron diversilobum, Urtica dioica, Claytonia sp., Ribes sp.

The common and widespread Salix arctica is conspicuous because of its long upright catkins and gray-green leaves with attenuate tips. Calamagrostis muiriana is the grass with purplish open panicles.

Arctic willow will is a subalpine to alpine mat-forming subshrub. It is perhaps the most common of the mat-forming willows and has small leaves that are usually just over 10 mm wide and about 10 mm long. The leaf tip is acuminate and the undersurface is light-green compared to the green upper surface. The styles are 1-2 mm long.

NMH987

Montane coniferous forest, dominated by southernmost population of Pinus balfouriana. Unique - surrounded by Pinus jeffreyi and Abies magnifica var. shastensis dominated forest at surrounding lower elevations. Mostly flat, growing on decomposed granite with large granitic boulders. Growing next to trail. w/ Pinus balfouriana, Eriogonum polypodum, Penstemon sp.