Monday, January 2, 2012

Fave Flora of 2011

Being a relatively newbie CA naturalist, I still have quite the laundry list of native species yet to see and get to know. Including thousands of species of Cali's prolific plant life.

But, I seem to be on a good pace. My 2011 surveys and explorations allowed me to make the acquaintance of over 400 new-for-me species. A number being true rarities or surprise finds.

Here, in order of seasonal appearance, are 20 favorites.

triple dutch
California Pipe Vine, Aristolochia californica, on San Bruno Mountain

picture perfect patch
Tuolumne Fawn Lily, Erythronium tuolumnense, along the Stanislaus River

astragalus coccineus
Scarlet Locoweed, Astragalus coccineus, in the Alabama Hills off hwy 395

nashiana
Charlotte's Phacelia, Phacelia nashiana, near Indian Wells off hwy 395

all hail the hypnoflower
The previously adored Calico Monkeyflower, Mimulus pictus, from the Tehachapis

yerba amarilla
Yerba Amarilla, Mentzelia multiflora ssp. longiloba, on the Kelso Dunes

desert mariposa
Desert Mariposa, Calochortus kennedyi, in the eastern Mojave

lilac sunbonnets
Lilac Sunbonnets, Langloisia setosissima, in the eastern Mojave

tacky
Tacky Phacelia, Phacelia viscida, on the Chimineas Ranch

hot hoffmanii
Hoffman's Jewelflower, Streptanthus glandulosus var. hoffmani, in The Cedars

and more
California Lady Slipper Orchids, Cypripedium californicum, in The Cedars

serpentine milkweed
Serpentine Milkweed, Asclepias solanoana, in The Cedars

calcicola
Limestone Liveforever, Dudleya calcicola, in the Tehachapi Mountains

thorny
San Mateo Thornmint, Acanthomintha duttonii, in Edgewood Preserve

blond boschni
California Groundcone, Boschniakia strobilacea, in the Santa Cruz Mountains

r e c u r v a
Scarlet Fritillary, Fritillaria recurva, in the Tahoe National Forest near the Yuba Pass

bach's calicoflower
Bach's Calicoflower, Downingia bacigalupii, in Sierra Valley

lemmony polygaloides
Milkwort Jewelflower, Streptanthus polygaloides, near Mariposa

pinesap
Fringed Pinesap, Pleuricospora fimbriolata, SFSU Field Campus, near the Yuba Pass

still swertia
Inyo Green Gentian, Swertia puberulenta, south of Mono Lake

I sure hope we start getting some good rain soon. Else, 2012 might not be nearly as colorful.

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6 comments:

  1. That California Groundcone, Boschniakia strobilacea is amazing. Never seen one for all the time I have spent in the Santa Cruz Mts. Do they get down my way. I will have to put those on the 2012 wish list.

    Lots of great photos. I am happy to have shared 7 of them with you. Thanks for pointing them out.

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  2. Great photos! I hesitant to state I'm adding some of these to my "want to see" list" like the CA groundcone. Hey, did you recently post about your garden at home? I've been looking through archives to find a recent clarkia post, but I can't seem to find it now.

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  3. Oop, figured it out - too many different online platforms. Apologies for the typos... need tea to fully wake up.

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  4. Awesome wildflower photos, and you really do get around, don't you? The Scarlet Locoweed has been on my list of must sees for years, but we've never been able to take our trips to the Alabama Hills/Eastern Sierras earlier than July, which is too late in the season for these guys. Where are "the Cedars," btw?

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  5. Thanks camissonia. Yes, July is far too late to see the Astragalus - we caught it in late March. The Cedars is a 500 acre serpentine canyon in Sonoma County that's absolutely loaded with endemics and rarities - several that are found no where else.

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