Shockley's Rockcress - Arabis shockleyi

This is a pretty member of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae), one of the numerous Arabis species. Fortunately, the closely clasping leaves make it rather easy to identify as Shockley's rockcress (Arabis shockleyi). Arabis is undergoing a name change to Boechera, but the USDA Plants Database still has it as Arabis, and for the purposes of this blog, that's my source for official names.


Shockley's rockcress is only found in California, Nevada, and Utah. It grows in pinyon-juniper areas and blooms in April-May.

For more info about Shockley's rockcress, click here.

Spiny Phlox - Phlox hoodii

This little phlox, growing in mounds out in the sagebrush, was really common at about 6500 feet, yet I've never noticed it until this year! I guess it just goes to show that observing wildflowers can be a long-time passion!

This is spiny phlox (Phlox hoodii), also called carpet phlox by some. It's found throughout most of western North America and can be white or pink. It often blooms right after the snow melts (which is perhaps the reason I haven't seen it before--I was afraid of getting stuck on muddy roads!).


In the photo above, you can see the long corolla tube extending from the pointy, cobwebby leaves. For lots more info about spiny phlox, click here.

p.s. What do you think of this larger photo size on the blog? I've been experimenting and am not sure what I like best yet.

Wedgeleaf Draba - Draba cuneifolia

When I saw this dainty little flower growing near some rocks on an alluvial fan, I was excited as I knew I hadn't seen it before. The four petals gave me a clue that it was in the mustard family, and it wasn't hard to key out as wedgeleaf draba (Draba cuneifolia).


The basal leaves are quite hairy. Small elliptical seed pods will soon appear. This plant is found throughout much of the U.S.

More info about wedgeleaf draba is found here.

Spring Flowers

I've been seeing April flowers for a few weeks now, but it's only in the last few days that I've found some that I haven't yet featured on this blog. Before I go into those new species, I thought it might be nice to have a quick review of what's blooming in April in the central Great Basin.

First up is desert biscuitroot (Lomatium foeniculaceum). It's yellow flowers really stand out. It's cousin Nevada biscuitroot (Lomatium nevadense) with white flowers is really common now.

I've seen a couple different cryptanthas, including this compact one, James' cryptantha (Cryptantha cinerea).

The Astragalus is really brightening up hillsides. We have 26 different kinds in this area, and I'm struggling with identification (especially since I can't find any photos for a couple of them and am going to have to better my knowledge of the botanical descriptions). I think this is Newberry's milkvetch (Astragalus newberryi).

A close up of the pretty flower and hairy leaves.

A similar looking flower, but with tendrils coming off the leaves is American Vetch (Vicia americana). Amazingly, it's almost done blooming even though it's snowing today.

The yellow round flowers and waxy leaves of creeping barberry (Oregon grape) (Mahonia repens) are dotting the sagebrush areas.

I only saw one longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia) as I traversed the sagebrush area. Soon there will be a lot more.

The close up revealed the crinkly edges of the petals.

There have been lots of non-natives out, like common dandelions (Taraxacum officinale), blue mustard (Chorispora tenella) and the yellow bur buttercup (Ceratocephela testiculata), that makes a nasty little spike as the plant dries out.

This is a pleasing little plant, Chambers' twinpod (Physaria chambersii). There are several other Physaria species in the area that I need to key out.

A close up of the twinpod.

Okay, I've got photos and will start putting up photos (almost) every day beginning next week. I'm looking forward to getting closer to photographing every plant in the Snake Range area flora (see link at top right of page if you want to see the flora).

First Spring Flower

Hi! I'm about to emerge from the Plant a Day hibernation.

Why?

Because I saw my first native wildflower this morning, a lomatium! It was unexpected and thrilling. I didn't have my camera with me but will try to get back and photograph it soon.

Looking forward to a fun season of photographing and identifying more of the Snake Valley flora.

P.S. I just did a search on my blog and found that this was the same flower I saw last year as my first flower. But last year it was March 26, and this year March 6, so we are quite a bit earlier this year (or perhaps last year was quite a bit later due to the very cold spring).

Rubber rabbitbrush-Ericameria nauseosa

This is a shrub many allergy-sufferers come to know all-to-well: rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa previously Chrysothamnus nauseosus). It flowers in the late summer and early fall and is found throughout western North America.

There are lots of cool facts about rubber rabbitbrush, some of which you can find here.

Saltlover-Halogeton glomeratus

One of the common names for this plant is saltlover (Halogeton glomeratus); its genus name Halogeton is Greek for salt neighbor, and is often used as the common name. It's nonnative, found in salty soils, and is considered in many areas to be a noxious weed. It grows throughout much of the western U.S. It concentrates sodium oxalate and is poisonous to livestock.

The stems are often red, and the flowers are small and inconspicuous.

For more info on saltlover, click here.