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Yellow Violet -or- Johnny JumpUp -or- Wild Pansy (Viola nuttallii), family Violaceae (Violet). Other common names are Nuttall's violet (after the famous botanist Thomas Nuttall) -or- Yellow prairie violet. By the way... Al Schneider, creator of Southwest Colorado Wildflowers, has detailed biographical information on famous botanists on his excellent website. Read about Thomas Nuttall on his site here. Weber and Wittmann list 16 species present in Colorado, in the genus Viola, in Colorado Flora Eastern Slope. There are about 400-500 total species in the genus worldwide. At least as recently as 2001 nuttallii is the most common yellow violet in Colorado. It IS lovely, and unusual. It is one of the few violet species with lanceolate (long and narrow, but broadest at the base) leaves. See this characteristic in the foliage frame of this panel. This species is a perennial herb (it dies back then returns in the spring from it's root-stock rather than from seeds). The plants are native to the Western and North-Central United States, as well as Western Canada. 
USES: Many species of violets are valued for culinary purposes as food or as decorative additions to deserts or salads. There are a number of recorded uses by Native Americans of non-specific species of violets: Costanoan - Plant juice used as a salve and poultice of boiled plants applied to sores. Iroquois - Poultice of smashed plants applied to wounds. Infusion of roots used as a wash for eyes. Compound decoction of roots taken as a panacea. Infusion of roots taken by mother and baby when baby gets sick. Thompson - Juice used in dogs' noses to clear out the nostrils and enable them to track deer better. Cherokee - Leaves cooked with other potherbs and eaten. Omaha - Violets used by children in playing games.
See the other members of genus Viola on this site: labradorica & canadensis.
Plant location: Bitterbrush Trail, a hike near Lyons Colorado, was the site where these violets were scattered about in small bunches here and there. Very cheery! May 12, 2009. Common they may be in Colorado, but not in the U.S. overall. They are found only in these states: CO, ID, KS, MN, MT, ND, NE, NM, SD, WY. They are classified as threatened in Minnesota. This species is a plains to montane dweller. Habitats include meadows, open slopes, often blooming in the protection of rocks at 5,000 to 11,500 feet elevation. The rocky 'cradle' in our plant view shot is the most typical of locations when we have seen this species.
Bloom period: April to July, and sometimes as late as September. Note the unusual characteristic of the nuttallii species foliage. It is one of the few violet species with lanceolate (long and narrow, but broadest at the base) leaves. 
Field Clover -or- Hop Trefoil (Trifolium campstre), family Fabaceae (Pea). Per WIKIPEDIA: 'Trifolium campestre, commonly known as Hop Trefoil and Low Hop Clover, is a species of clover native to Europe and western Asia, growing in most areas, but specifically thriving on dry, sandy grassland habitats, as well as in fields, woodland margins, roadsides, wastelands and cultivated land. The species name campestre means "of the fields". Hop trefoil is the third most important clover in agriculture because its foliage is good for feeding livestock and replenishing soil. It is not generally planted, but is considered a valuable herb when found growing in a pasture. It has become naturalised in North America, particularly in the west and south of the continent.' End quote.
Plant location: Found in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming on August 28, 2009. The elevation was 7216'. GPS coordinates: N44°31.719 W110°50.186. 
Bloom period: Unknown. Note the inset in this frame. The plant was advanced enough in it's season to be bearing fruit in addition to flowers. -
Plains Paintbrush (Castilleja sessiliflora), family re-classed to Orobanchaceae (Broomrape) from Scrophulariaceae (Figwort).
Plant location: Boulder County Open Space, the Coal Seam Trail, Colorado. The date sighted was May 18, 2009. This species commonly is found at elevations of 4000 to 7000'.
Bloom period: April to July. -
Nylon Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus viridiflorus), family Cactaceae (Cactus). Weber describes this species of cactus as common in both plains and mountains. This common cactus is a perennial plant that is (surprise) drought tolerant. It is one of about 70 species in the genus. The flowers of species in this genus are said to last slightly longer than blooms from other cacti. The plants are native to North America but found worldwide.
Factiod: From the great website Colorado University Extension is this: what appear to be cactus species leaves are actually stems which have evolved to avoid drought; true leaves of cacti, for those species that have them, are tiny appendages seen in spring which are early deciduous (fall off).
Plant location: Seen on the Bitterbrush Trail near Lyons Colorado - May 12, 2009. Found in the following United States: CO, KS, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY. Most common habitat is grassland, in the plains and foothill zones.
Bloom season: May through August. 
Leafy Cinquefoil -or Wood Beauty (Drymocallis fissa), family Rosaceae (Rose). Beauty is a well deserved name for this bloom. Lovely isn't it? The genus was Potentilla, per William Weber. 
Plant location: Seen on the Bitterbrush Trail near Lyons Colorado - May 12, 2009. The elevation was approximately 6100'. 
Bloom period:
May through August -
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opunita macrorhiza), family Cactaceae (Cactus). 
Plant location: Clear Creek Trail in Colorado on May 29, 2009. 
Bloom season: May and June. 
Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower). This identification was difficult and made ultimately based on the foliage of the plants. 
Plant location: Rocky Mountain National Park, Hidden Valley area. August 19, 2009. 
Bloom period: August to November. -
Western Wallflower (Erysimum asperum), family Brassicaceae (Mustard). 
Plant location: Seen hiking in a Boulder County Open Space, Colorado on May 18, 2009 
Bloom season: The orange variant blooms early in spring, yellow unknown. 
Arrowleaf ragwort (Senecio triangularis), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower). One of the 68 species in Senecio according to the USDA Plant Database. WIKIPEDIA mentions that is has hosted over 1000 species. The Native American Ethnobotany website lists the following uses: 'Cheyenne Drug (Analgesic) Infusion of pulverized leaves or roots taken for chest pains. Cheyenne Drug (Sedative) Infusion of pulverized leaves or roots taken as a sedative.' End quote. 
Plant location: Yellowstone National Park on August 28, 2009 at an elevation
of 8860'. GPS coordinates: N44.47.468 W110.26.819. 
Bloom period: Mid summer to early fall. -
Fernleaf Lousewort -or- Bracted Lousewort, specifically Payson's Lousewort (Pedicularis bracteosa), family Scrophulariaceae (Figwort). According to the USDA Plant database, there is only one variety of this lousewort in the state of Wyoming - Payson's Lousewort - Pedicularis bracteosa var. paysoniana. 
Plant location: Seen in the wonderful Medicine Bow National Park, Wyoming, hiking the Shelf Lakes Trail. The date was July 22, 2009. 
Bloom season: Flowers only in June and July. 
Woolly Eriophyllum -or- Oregon Sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower). This plant lives up to it's name, woolly that it is. It is native to western North America, typically growing in dry, open places below 10,000 ft. Also it grows on rocky slopes and bluffs. It is most common in California, but grows as far north as Vancouver, Canada. Per WIKIPEDIA: 'Lewis and Clark saw Eriophyllums growing above their camp on the Clearwater near present day Kamiah, Idaho. They gathered two specimens (the plant was then unknown to science) on June 6, 1806.' Native Americans used this plant for a most interesting use. The Chehalis used the dried flowers as a love charm! Skagits rubbed the plant's leaves on the face to prevent chapping. The Miwok
made a poultice of leaves bound on body over aching parts. There are 11 species in the genus. 
Plant location: Found in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, on August 29, 2009. Elevation 8817'. GPS coordinates N44°46.771 W110°27.399. This species is found in the following United States: CA, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY. 
Bloom period: July and August. -
Pineapple weed -or- Disc Mayweed (Matricaria discoidea), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower). Per WIKIPEDIA: 'Matricaria discoidea, commonly known as pineapple weed and disc mayweed is an annual plant native to North America and Northeast Asia but which has become a cosmopolitan weed. It is in the family Asteraceae. The flowers exude a chamomile/pineapple aroma when crushed. They are edible and have been used in salads (although they may become bitter by the time the plant blooms) and to make herbal tea. Pineapple weed has been used for medicinal purposes, including for relief of gastrointestinal upset, infected sores, fevers, and postpartum anemia.' End quote. The website Native American Ethnobotany has many recorded uses of the plant including
perfume and insect repellent. Another interesting note is that the Eskimo, Inuktitut tribes use the plants as an indicator of salmonberry picking time. 
Plant location: Seen on the Beartooth Highway near Yellowstone National Park, in the state of Montana. Date August 30, 2009. GPS coordinates: N44.55.928 W109.44.718. The elevation was 6952'. 
Bloom season: May through September is the production period for the flower heads. -
Cowlily -or- Rocky Mountain Pondlily (Nuphar polysepalum), family Nymphaeaceae (Water Lily). Per WIKIPEDIA: 'Nymphaeaceae is a name for a family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called water lilies and live in freshwater areas in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains 8 genera. There are about 70 species of water lilies around the world. The genus Nymphaea contains about 35 species across the Northern Hemisphere.' End quote 
Plant location: Found in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming at Isa Lake. The date was September 2, 2009. GPS
coordinates: N44°26.270 W110°43.09. 
Bloom period: Unknown. -
Green Antelopehorns -or- Green Milkweed (Asclepias viridis), family was Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) but is now reclassed into the Dogbane family, Apocynaceae.. Thank you, AMY JO JONES, for sharing your images of Green Antelopehorns. This distinctive plant is a perennial forb/herb that is endangered in Indiana. Like many members of the milkweed family the species is somewhat toxic. Per Wildflowers.org is this: 'All plants in the genus Asclepias are probably somewhat toxic, some fatally so, to both humans and animals. The sap of some causes skin irritation in humans. Sensitivity to a toxin varies with a person's age, weight, physical condition, and individual susceptibility. Children are most vulnerable because of their curiosity and small size. Toxicity can vary in a plant
according to season, the plant's different parts, and its stage of growth; and plants can absorb toxic substances, such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants from the water, air, and soil.' End quote. A positive benefit of this species is that it is an attractor of butterflies and so can be a valuable addition to yard garden - as long as the toxic nature of the plant is known. Some species in the milkweed family are the sole food of Monarch butterflies. It also is said to have a pleasant fragrance and is reasonably drought resistant. 
Plant location: Sighted by Amy Jo Jones on May 24, 2009 near a lake in Stillwater Oklahoma. Green Milkweed can be found growing in rich or poor soils and blooms off and on over the growing season through the end of summer. It wants full sun. 
Bloom
season: Long flowering season of April through September. See our photos of Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed) here. WIKIPEDIA also has some very fine images of other Asclepias species here. There are about 140 members in the genus.
