Slatsz Wildflower Walks 2016: 14 May 03, 2016

5/4/2016

00:13

Wildflower Walk 14, May 03, 2016

I arrived at the park at 4:20 in the afternoon, temperature 85 degrees. Left at 7.

I went directly to the west end of the park to check Purshia tridentata, antelope bitter brush for flowers, I made a dumb mistake and photographed Cercocarpus ledifolius, curl leaf mountain mahogany instead. There wasn’t enough left of the flowers to remind me that I had already photographed it but I remembered, later.

Cercocarpus ledifolius, curl leaf mountain mahogany

I walked over to check the apple tree, Malus species, for flowers, it was far past bloom, young apples were well developed.

On the way to the apple tree I saw what we used to call gold buds, Antennaria luzuloides, woodrush pussy-toes is a guessed identification. The photographs in the Burke herbarium website are not reassuring.

Antennaria luzuloides, woodrush pussy-toes

Malus species, apple

Behind the apple tree there is a huge Cornus sp., dogwood, that I assume is domestic. It’s in full bloom.

I assumed it was domestic because it was away from water, except a watered lawn, and it is very tall but Burke says Cornus sericea can be 20 feet tall. Burke doesn’t say anything about its habitat. I assumed it to be a water lover because it rings south pound. One common name is creek dogwood.

Cornus sericea, dogwood, assume domestic

I sat down to photograph the apple and the dogwood, beside some Eriogonum heracleoides, parsnip flowered buckwheat, which I assumed were still in bud. But they were all white instead of the more familiar reddish or red and white mixed buds. There were touches of red on some inflorescences. I picked a white plant to photograph and there were tiny flowers.

Eriogonum heracleoides, parsnip flowered buckwheat

Lots of Lomatium triternatum, nine leaf biscuitroot in bloom, some are fading, Lots of Lithophragma parviflora prairie star, lots of Microsteris gracilis, slender phlox, lots of Allium geyeri, Geyer’s onion.

Lomatium macrocarpum is beyond flowering. I put off doing comparison studies to help identify what maybe another Lomatium species and didn’t get the comparison done. I hoped to find an L. macrocarpum in bloom but I didn’t.

Lots of Camassia quamash in bloom, many fading. There were several Zigadenus venenosus, death camas along the north side trail.

I walked up the north side trail to check again on Orobanche uniflora, broomrape. No sign of them. They are said to be parasites on Asteraceae, and other plant families. There was a Microseris nutans near them. Perhaps they killed it off and died. But I think I remember Grant Cummings saying he didn’t see them every year. He showed me one in another location. They should be in the park somewhere.

I did find another Antennaria sp and perhaps it is the same species but it has white buds rather than the gold buds.

Antennaria species

Lots of Balsamorhiza sagittata, balsamroot, flowers, lots are fading.

A few Erigeron compositus, cutleaf daisies are still in bloom, most are faded. I saw one on top of the north end of long rock ridge that is flourishing. All of the Phlox caespitosa, tufted phlox was faded on the north side but many were in bloom over near the main trail. The bitterroot are coming on.

There are short stems with leaves where the Apocynum androsaemifolium, spreading dogbane ought to be. I believe they are A. androsaemifolium.

Apocynum androsaemifolium, spreading dogbane

I see Geum triflorum, prairie smoke, everywhere I walk.

There is a soft breeze blowing with gusts. It is troublesome, blowing my ‘subjects’ away. I hold a stem to keep a leaf from blowing away but it flutters in the wind and goes out of focus.

On the way down to the west end, on the south side of the main trail I saw an Amelanchier alnifolia, saskatoon. I checked its leaves and none seemed to be characteristic, round at the base, toothed at the distal end. Some leaves were somewhat toothed, some had smooth margins.

Amelanchier alnifolia leaves

I photographed leaves and buds of what I believe is Symphoricarpos albus, snow berry.

Symphoricarpos albus, snow berry

I saw an Iris germanica, bearded iris in bloom.

Sitting on the south east ‘corner’ of white bitterroot rock photographing buds of an Eriogonum species that will have yellow flowers.

Eriogonum species, yellow

I saw an occasional Tritileia grandiflora, blue lily everywhere went. There was a scattered patch near the base of white bitterroot rock.

There are two white Lewisia rediviva, bitterroot, in bud on the top of white bitterroot rock. There will be more, later, but not many.

Lewisia rediviva, white, bitterroot buds

The round patch of Eriogonum species has lots of buds. It will have yellow flowers later.

Eriogonum species, round patch

The female Juniperus occidental, western juniper by the round patch is full of fruit. It bloomed in April.

Juniperus occidental, western juniper

Burke calls these cones

The Purshia tridentata, antelope bitter brush, too, is well past bloom and must have bloomed in April.

Purshia tridentata, antelope bitter brush

There is a little redness on the top of the pads of Opuntia fragilis, brittle prickly pear. Buds are developing.

Opuntia fragilis, brittle prickly pear

5:33 leaving the west end of the park. Very tired. I have things to look at, yet.

There was a Lonicera utahensis, Utah honeysuckle by the south trail, near the curb at the east end of the park. It seems to be gone. There is a pile of trash to be taken away including some logs. I suppose it was cut down.

I walked down to check the patch of Toxicodendron radicans, poison ivy. I’ve never photographed its buds or its flowers. I did get fruit, once. I saw foliage, no buds. I didn’t get up close and personal.

Toxicodendron radicans, poison ivy - foliage

There has been light wind with heavier gusts all day, apparently keeping the mosquitoes down. But the breeze is very light now and the mosquitoes are feeding.

I photographed one of the last few flowers on the Berberis aquifolium, Oregon grape. Lots of fruit, of course.

Berberis aquifolium, Oregon grape – last flowers, fruit

The Cornus sericea, redosier dogwood around south pond are in bloom.

Cornus sericea, redosier dogwood - flower

The mosquitoes have followed me into the sunshine. I hoped they would stay in the shade, but no.

I checked the patch of Camassia quamash in the seep west of south pond for Myosotis stricta, forget me not and found nothing, again. The patch is thick with foliage. And the mosquitoes were a distraction.

As I crossed the main trail I could see, in the distance that Ceanothus sanguineus, Oregon tea tree was in full bloom.

Ceanothus sanguineus, Oregon tea tree

On the walk to C. sanguineus I checked a little patch of Camassia quamash.

I occasionally see Camassia quamash, blue camas with what seems to be ten basal leaves but I’m sure it is several plants rising in a tuft. These have four flower stalks.

Camas quamash, blue camas

I photographed some leaves that I thought I recognized. I always confuse the common name. I think of it as monk’s hood but it’s narrow leaf skullcap. I saw the leaves in the usually environment, one of the little ‘rock ponds’. But checking older photos I see the leaves aren’t right. They are not narrow. Perhaps they get narrow.

Scutellaria angustifolia, narrow leaf skullcap - foliage

6:37 in the evening. Sun looks bright. Camera is complaining that there isn’t enough light. I wonder if it’s a weak battery. The battery is several years old.

I checked the mud flat where I find some strange species, later. There is an area of the mud flat dominated by young, round, undifferentiated leaves.

As I crossed the main trail on the way back to the car I saw the first garter snake that I have seen running free, there. It was way too quick for my camera.

There were fresh looking white mushrooms by the trail.

Mushrooms

Three deer were by my car. I was reluctant to frighten them. I didn’t want to chase them away. But it was no problem. I walked slowly toward them. They walked slowly away from me. They are obviously familiar with humans. Some watched me. Some continued to feed.

3 deer