Wildflowers, White Pg7

American Bistort -or- Western Bistort (Bistorta bistortoides), family Polygonaceae (Buckwheat). A pretty white cone, with yellow tipped stamens - each on it's own stalk - will easily grace an alpine meadow and delight you! One source of ours, the book SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILFLOWERS, offers that the roots of this species are edible and best if roasted. Note the information that the genus is ambiguous botanically. This is from WIKIPEDIA 'Persicaria bistorta (Bistort or Common Bistort) is a herbaceous flowering plant found throughout Europe. The generic placement of this species is in flux. While treated here as in Persicaria, it has also been placed in Polygonum or Bistorta. The Latin name "bistorta" refers to the twisted appearance of the root. The plant was used to make a bitter pudding in Lent from a combination of the plant's leaves, oatmeal, egg and other herbs. It is the principal ingredient of dock pudding. Numerous other vernacular names have been recorded for the species in historical texts, though none is used to any extent. Many of the following refer to the plant's use in making puddings: Adderwort, Dragonwort, Easter giant, Easter ledger, Easter ledges, Easter magiant, Easter man-giant, Gentle dock, Great bistort, Osterick, Oysterloit, Passion dock, Patience dock (this name is also used for Rumex patientia), Patient dock, Pink pokers, Pudding grass, Pudding dock, Red legs, Snakeweed, Twice-writhen, Water ledges.' End quote. Plant location: We saw these cheery looking blooms at Mt Evans and in the Rocky Mountain National Park - both at high elevations - in July 2008. Bloom season: Late spring through summer.
Prickly Poppy (Argemone polyanthemos), family Papaveraceae (Poppy). Oh! The reputation of these plants is almost universal - d.r.u.g.s. Well it isn't always true. Only the Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum) can claim this dubious distinction. According to the website Southwest Colorado Wildflowers is the following: 'This is an Eastern Plains species introduced to the Western Slope probably through highway construction. It is still uncommon on the Western Slope. Flowers are large, brilliant white, delicate, and flutter in a slight breeze. Prickles adorn stem leaf and seed pods. "Argemone" is a herb referred to by the Greeks thousands of years ago and "polyanthemos" means "many flowers". Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.' End quote. Our specimen was in what could be considered a plains area. The flower certainly appears in contradiction to the foliage. With a delicate and brilliant white crepe paper look to the flower, the harsh needle-like leaves and stems add a touch-me-not message to the look of this plant. The genus Argemone hosts about 25 species of prickly poppies. Other poppy genus include bush varieties, scrubs, and even small trees. Note that there are plants in the Papaveraceae family that are poisonous. WIKIPEDIA has this 'These plants almost all contain alkaloids. Many are poisonous. The Mexican Prickly Poppy (pictured above) is poisonous if taken internally and may cause edema and glaucoma. Even if an animal, such as a goat, should persist in grazing on this plant, not only will the animal suffer but so will those who drink its milk, because the poisons are passed along in the milk.' End quote Plant location: Our specimen was off the roadside in Thornton Colorado, July 2008. Bloom season: April to August.
Hall's Alumroot (Heuchera hallii) family Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage). This species of Heuchera is less seen than many of the more common wildflowers. It is extremely interesting in it's properties. We found it in the book COLORADO'S BEST WILDFLOWER HIKES by Pam and David Irwin (rather than any of our reference books on wildflower identification). True to the description in their book, our specimen was nestled in the crooks of granite on a hillside going to the summit of Mt. Evans. It is said to be abundant on the upper reaches of the Mount Herman trail, which we look forward to exploring. Alumroot was favored by native americans for use as an eyewash and for curing sores. The plant's use was effective on human and horse sores. The most interesting application of the plant is one of stealth!! The juices of plants in the alumroot genus can be made into invisible ink!! The following is quoted from Pan and David Irwin's book: 'Seventeenth century Britons wrote about Heuchera's application in "secret writing". By smashing alumroot in a small amount of water, the liquid becomes invisible ink. Coorespondents pen letters to be read only when held under running water.' End quote. Our encounter with Heuchera hallii was prior to learning of the invisible ink qualities of the plants juice. Rest assured we will try it at the first opportunity!! The genus hosts about 200 species and they all are native to North America. The appearance of heuchera can vary greatly from one to the next and grow in a variety of conditions. Plant location: Mt. Evans Colorado, July 20, 2008. Bloom season: June through early August. Habitat - montane regions.
Alpine Thistle -or- Frosty Ball -or- Wolly Thistle -or- Mountain Thistle (Cirsium scopulorum), family Asteraceae (Aster). What dramatic looking flowers these are! They seem to be fiercely protected by their thorny edged leaves, while the 'flower' is cushioned by a downy mass of fine hair. We have seen many examples of these plants at higher elevations such as Pikes Peak, and the Rocky Mountain National Park as well as on Mt. Evans. While many if not most thistle's are considered weeds they too have a place in Mother Nature's grand scheme. They provide nourishment for various insects. The name Cirsium comes from the Greek word kirsos (swollen viens). The plant has been known to be a remedy for just that. Plant location: Mt. Evans Colorado, July 20, 2008. Bloom season: July to September. Subalpine and Alpine zones.
Elegant Death Camas -or- Wand Lily -or- Poisen Sego (Zigadenus elegans), family Liliaceae (Lily). Isn't this flower lovely? To LOOK at yes. Don't let any part of this plant enter your body, IT WILL KILL YOU. The name is a telling clue. Many livestock animals alone, AND early western settlers, have been killed by ingesting this plant. The roots are easily mistaken for edible onions or lily bulbs. The poison is zygadenine and is more potent than strychnine! The plant is a perennial also called Mountain Death Camas. It can cause convulsions, coma, and then death. Fortunately this is a small group with only about 15 species in the genus. They are found in North America and Asia. The plants grow from bulbs or rhizomes. Per WIKIPEDIA: 'they are now regarded by modern taxonomy (for example the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group) as members of the family Melanthiaceae. family of flowering perennial herbs in the Northern Hemisphere.[1] The family has been recognized by relatively few taxonomists, and the circumscription has varied. Many authors have considered these plants to belong to the family Liliaceae, in part because both their sepals and petals closely resemble each other and are often large and showy like the flowers of the Lily Family.' End quote. SO....NO making of tea with this plant!!! Plant location: Mt. Evans Colorado, July 20, 2008. Bloom season: June to August. Habitat, foothills to alpine zones.
Field Mouse Chickweed (Cerastium arvense), family Caryothyllaceae (Pinks). These early blooming flowers have a simple delicate symmetry that is very attractive. The plants in this genus are called chickweeds due to their use as feed for chickens and other barnyard birds. The plants are perennials. The following is from the Center for Plant Conservation: 'The species Cerastium arvense is a hardy perennial that can be found in cold and temperate regions of both the northern and southern hemispheres. This particular variety produces 5-petaled flowers that are white and about 3/8 of an inch wide. Plants can grow to a foot tall, and are found growing individually or in mats up to several yards wide...Kartesz (1999) recognizes five subspecies of Cerastium arvense, and between them all they are located in nearly every state in the United States, including Alaska, as well as nearly every province in Canada, as well as in Greenland.' End quote. Our specimens were growing in a thick cluster of flowers making a pretty if delicate show. Plant location: Seen on June 6, 2008 in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains approximately 40 miles from Denver. Can be found in fairly diverse habitats; meadows, roadsides, open forest, and dry hillsides...for example. Bloom season: Spring and summer.
Giant Evening Star -or- Ten-petal Blazingstar -or- Moonflower (Mentzelia decapetala), family Loasaceae (Stickleaf). We have noticed photographs of these striking flowers in our reference books and wished to see them 'live'. On this outing, quite unexpectedly, we got our wish. The plants were not far from the river bank in the area we were photographing some American Avocets. The soil was quite dry and sandy. The timing of our visit to the site was lucky in terms of seeing these blooms open. It was early evening. If the petals had still been closed we may have easily missed the flowers. With only the stamens in view, the plants would likely have looked like large creamy thistle... as we walked on by. The genus hosts 60-70 species. They are native to the Americas. Some species are shrubs. The plant occurs from Alberta south to Iowa and Mexico. Ten-petal mentzelia is a coarse erect biennial or perennial from a taproot. Plants have one or more stems up to three feet tall. The coarsely-toothed leaves are 2-5 inches long and covered with spiny, sticky hairs. Large (3-5 inches wide) white to cream colored flowers open in late afternoon and close about midnight. Numerous seeds are carried in 2-inch long capsules. The parched seeds of an Arizona mentzelia were used as food by American Indians. It is doubtful that livestock graze on the plants since they are spiny. Plant location: We were exploring an area of the Adams County Regional Park when we came across this specimen. August 20, 2008. Bloom season: summer, some areas also spring.