Pale Evening Primrose-Oenothera pallida

On the way back from a trip this morning (hence a break in posting), we had to stop for some construction. I wandered around the side of the road and found these pretty flowers that are in the Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae). Their name is pale evening primrose (Oenothera pallida). They grow about a foot high, with the flowers at the end of the stalks.
For more information about pale evening primrose, click here.

Halogeton-Halogeton glomeratus

This highly desert-adapted plant is unfortunately not native, although many other species in its family are. This is halogeton or salt lover (Halogeton glomeratus), in the Goosefoot Family. It grows in disturbed areas, such as along sides of roads. It's a summer annual that can grow up to a foot high and has small white flowers later in the summer. It can poison livestock if they eat too much of it.
For more information about halogeton, click here.

Cheatgrass-Bromus tectorum

Here's another easy member of the Grass Family, easy because it is so widespread. This is cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), an annual weed. It is a bad, bad plant, adapted to a wide variety of habitats, and no one knows how to control it.

For more information about cheatgrass, click here.

Some Other Flowers

I've been busy working on posts for my Desert Survivor blog, and have included some vegetation from the Mojave Desert. Stop by to see something a little different than what we have here!

Clasping Pepperweed-Lepidium perfoliatum

This unusual looking plant with the clasping leaves is in the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) and is called clasping pepperweed or clasping peppergrass (Lepidium perfoliatum). Unfortunately it's nonnative.

Although most of the leaves on the stem are clasping, the basal leaves and lower stem leaves may be divided. The tiny flowers are yellow.

For more information about clasping pepperweed, click here.

Foxtail Barley-Hordeum jubatum

Another member of the Grass Family (Poaceae) that is easy to identify is foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum). It's native to North America and eastern Siberia, but it acts like a weed, growing frequently in disturbed areas. The perennial herb is a monocot and can tolerate saline soils.
As the summer progresses, the grass will bend over more and appear flimsier.
For more info about foxtail barley, click here.

Indian Rice Grass-Acnatherum hymenoides

I've been hesitant about delving into the Grass Family (Poaceae) because there are so dang many of them, but maybe if I ease into it, it won't be so bad after all. Today's plant is one that is fairly easy to distinguish, Indian rice grass (Acnatherum hymenoides), formerly Oryzopsis hymenoides and Stipa hymenoides.

Indian rice grass is a perennial cool-season bunchgrass that grows in many places in western North America in a variety of habitats, but it does particularly well in sandy soils near sagebrush. As the name suggests, it is not only nutritious for wildlife and livestock, but also for humans.

This closeup shows the small seeds. Indian rice grass does well after fires and is also a good option for xeriscaping.

For more information about Indian rice grass, click here.