Bud Sagebrush-Picrothamnus desertorum

This small shrub at the lower elevations is bud sagebrush (Picrothamnus desertorum), previously called Artemisia spinescens. It is also known as budsage and is a member of the Sunflower Family (Asteraceae).

The flower heads are small and yellow, and because they flower as early as March, are often damaged by frost. The pollen causes allergies in some. The shrub is an important food source for upland game birds, other wildlife, and livestock.

For more information about bud sagebrush, click here.

Cushion Cryptantha-Cryptantha circumscissa

This tiny little prickly plant with the inconspicuous white flowers can easily be overlooked as it dots the valley bottoms. This is cushion cryptantha (Cryptantha circumscissa), a member of the Borage family. It rarely grows more than 10 cm tall.

For more information about cushion cryptantha, click here.

Browneyes-Camissonia claviformis

This rather small plant in the evening-primrose family is browneyes (Camissonia claviformis) as best as I can tell, although Camissonia boothii is also very similar. They both are found throughout the western U.S. and have many subspecies with different shaped leaves, different heights, and even different colors. It's an annual, and like others in this family, blooms in the evening.

For more information, click here.

Tufted Townsend Daisy-Townsendia scapigera

This attractive, low-lying daisy is tufted townsend daisy (Townsendia scapigera). It's found throughout the Great Basin, growing in openings in sagebrush.

For more information about tufted townsend daisy, click here.

Whitestem Blazingstar-Mentzelia albicaulis

I saw this little yellow flower growing on sandy soil and was confounded by what it was. Part of the confusion is that it's a new family for this blog, the Loasa Family (Loasaceae), and this is whitestem blazing star (Mentzelia albicaulisi).

It has five yellow petals and is found throughout western North America.
For more info about whitestem blazingstar, click here.

Ballhead Ipomopsis-Ipomopsis congesta

I've seen quite a few flowers blooming that I blogged about last year, so it's taken a little searching to find some new ones for the second season of A Plant a Day. And a little time to do a post!

This is Ipomopsis congesta, also called manyflowered gilia and ball headed gilia. It is rather inconspicuous, lying close to the ground, with flowers in clusters at the end of long, spreading stems.

For more info, click here.

First Native Flower of 2010

I know it's been a long, dry spell on this blog, but this weekend I went out and saw my first native flower, a lomatium. I am gearing up to start finding more plants and continue my efforts to photograph all of them in the area!

I also saw bur buttercups (a pain-in-the-foot non-native), along with some ornamentals like crocuses and daffodils. Winter is slowly giving way to spring.