Wildflowers, White Pg9

Lyall's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus lyallii), family Liliaceae (Lily). This lovely flower is found only in the state of Washington, and in Canada. The foliage was overlooked for photography. Often as the plant ages for the season the slender grass-like foliage withers away and there is none left but the stunning blooms. Enjoy the views of the plant and flowers. Lilies are mostly perennial herbs from rhizomes, bulbs, or corms, some rather woody and treelike, and often showy flowers in racemes or branched racemes. There are about 70 species in this genus. Many plants in the genus were used by Native Americans for food. It is unclear if this species was one of those. Other members of the genus include uses as starvation food by Utah Mormon's; per WIKIPEDIA 'They were also eaten by the Mormon settlers in Utah during the first winter or two because of crop failures during the first few years of settlement in the Great Salt Lake Valley.' The flowers from the genus Calochortus are among the most loved of wildflowers. Their exotic markings and colors are wonderful to look upon.
We have 3 other species in the genus Calochortus on the site. See them: elegans - gunnisonii - macrocarpus (Contributed by Bob Bagley). All of them are really lovely.
Plant location: Sighted in Twisp Washington on July 27, 2007 when Mark was dual-sport motorcycle riding. Bloom season: June and July.
Townsendia, species uncertain - Asteraceae (Aster). This pleasing little flower was quite a surprise to us when hiking so late in the year. There were numbers of plants still blooming in the area but this one was particularly fresh looking. We used a new technique to identify this plant, keys from the books both Alpine Flower Finder, and Colorado Flora; Eastern Slope.The genus Townsendia hosts about 26 species total. In .... Eastern Slope (which was the area of this sighting) the authors mention seven possible species; fendleri, eximia, grandiflora, rothrockii, hookeri, exscapa, and leptotes. We are attempting to identify which this is. Plant location: Greyrock Trail #946 in the Cache la Poudre Colorado area. November 1, 2008. The elevation was 7,006 feet - coordinates; n.40.42.678 w.105.17.669. Bloom season: non-specific
ONE WEEK LATER - 11.8.8. We were so intrigued with this plant that we did the hike again the following Saturday to see the plant's progress and obtain additional technical photographs of it. The entire disk was more developed in the flower with more florets showing and more pollen present. The emerging flowers were more developed too. We were delighted that the plant had not perished in cold weather! This shot is of the original bloom's phyllaries. In our original photographs these looked smooth. Magnification shows a very different story. Plant location: Greyrock Trail #946 in the Cache la Poudre Colorado area. November 8, 2008. Macro shot of one of the developing flower's phyllaries. Highly cropped macro shot of one of the developing flower's phyllaries. Note the cilia at the edges of the phyllaries.
Townsendia, technical photo - macro shot of disk - one week from original sighting. Plant location: Greyrock Trail #946 in the Cache la Poudre Colorado area. November 8, 2008. The elevation was 7,006 feet - coordinates; n.40.42.678 w.105.17.669. Townsendia, technical photo - macro shot of disk - original sighting. Townsendia, technical photo - macro shot of disk - original sighting.
Whitestem Goldenbush (Ericameria discoidea), family Asteraceae (Aster). From WIKIPEDIA: 'Ericameria discoidea is a species of flowering shrub in the daisy family known by the common name whitestem goldenbush. This plant is native to the western United States from California to Montana, where it grows in clumpy thickets on rocky slopes. This is a small shrub reaching a maximum height of 40 centimeters. It has many erect branches covered in a foliage of oval-shaped leaves coated in dense white woolly fibers and tiny stalked resin glands. Atop each short branch is an inflorescence of many flower heads, each packed with disc florets that bloom in golden yellow and wilt to a rusty orange.' End quote. Per Colorado Flora Eastern Slope this plant is named Macronema discoideum, the one species of this plant to be found in the eastern slope area of Colorado. It is described as having rayless, cream colored heads. The genus hosts about 33 species total. Plant location: Seen on Boreas Pass on September 14, 2008. Grows in clumpy thickets on rocky slopes. In Colorado it is frequently seen on montane slopes. Per Wikipedia the United States distribution is (CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WY). Bloom season: Uncertain bloom period on this perennial shrub/subshrub.
Fendler's Sandwort (Arenaria fendleri) -or- (Eremogone fendleri), family Alsinaceae (Chickweed) -or- Caryophyllaceae (Pink). Per Colorado Flora Eastern Slope this plant is classed in the Chickweed family. There are 27 other species in the genus Arenaria. This one is a perennial herb.
USES: The website Native American Ethnobotany has these records: Navajo, Ramah Drug (Panacea) Root used, only in the summer, as a "life medicine." (Respiratory Aid) Powdered root used as snuff to cause sneezing for congested nose.
Weber and Wittmann's comments from Colorado Flora Eastern Slope on the class are as follows: 'This family (Alsinaceae) is usually placed as a subfamily of Caryophyllaceae, but differs obviously in having its flowers constructed differently, with separate instead of united sepals and petals without narrow basal claws....To beginners, the chickweeds and sandworts seem to be an exasperating group, so many of them looking alike, but careful study shows a number of discrete genera with clearcut characters.' End quote. Plant location: Boreas Pass Colorado on September 14, 2008. This plant grows from foothills to alpine zones. It can be found in sunny, dry areas for example grassy slopes, hillsides, open woods, and clearings. The range in the United States is Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Bloom season: July to September, commonly.
Fendler's Sandwort (Arenaria fendleri) -or- (Eremogone fendleri), family Alsinaceae (Chickweed) -or- Caryophyllaceae (Pink). This fresher example of sandwort was seen earlier in the year, isn't it lovely. Plant location: Sighted June 6, 2008 in the Rocky Mountain Foothills, Hwy 93, along the roadside. Bloom season: July to September, commonly.