Angelica grayii, July 11, 2021
Common & scientific name
Gray’s angelica, Angelica grayi
Family
Parsley, Apiaceae
Location
No Name ridge, 12,300’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This alpine carrot is unmistakeable, with its large umbel of greenish flowers and overall stocky demeanor. It is usually found high on the Pass near water in the company of many other flowers and grasses.
Erigeron humilis, July 8, 2021
E. humilis, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Arctic alpine daisy, Erigeron humilis
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
NOT DISCLOSED TO PROTECT THIS RARE PLANT
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This flower, while widespread in the far north, is rare here and found in only a handful of alpine locations in central/south central Colorado, its furthest south location in the world. The photo above-left shows E. humilis beginning to grow right out of a mossy, snow-melt rivulet, where it is usually found. The photo below-left, very poorly in focus, captures the flower after fully-grown (I will strive for a better photo!). The hairs on its phyllaries have dark-purple “cross walls,” which look like occasional purple-to-black spots along a white/clear hair under the microscope. In Iceland it is known as “Snaekobbi.”
Penstemon harbourii, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Harbour’s penstemon, Penstemon harbourii
Family
Plantain, Plantaginaceae
Location
Mountain Boy, 12,600’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This one must be earned! Found only in Colorado, only in high talus fields, and only in a few spots on the Pass, this beautiful beardtongue is worth the climb and the search.
P. harbourii, July 8, 2021
Saxifraga cernua, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Nodding saxifrage, Saxifraga cernua
Family
Saxifrage, Saxifragaceae
Location
Mountain Boy, 12,600’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
A first for me! Hard to believe I’ve missed this previously, with its tall stature (compared to other, delicate, wet rock-hiding saxifrages), conspicuous red bulblets (by which it generally reproduces), and fuzzy/glandular kidney-shaped leaves that somehow, to me anyway, make me think “teddy bear.” Alas, one is never too old to be surprised and delighted, thank goodness!
Townsendia rothrockii, July 8, 2021
T. rothrockii, July 22, 2021
Common & scientific name
Rothrock’s townsendia, Townsendia rothrockii
Family
Aster, Asteraceae
Location
NOT DISCLOSED TO PROTECT THIS RARE PLANT
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This rare Colorado endemic is ranked G2, “imperiled globally,” by the Global Heritag Program and S2, “imperiled in state,” by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. It has been documented in only a few dozen places in central and southwest Colorado. It is a life honor and privilege to find Rothrock’s townsendia, and should be treated as such. The good news: the specimens I found on July 22 numbered in the hundreds, in a very small area at almost 13,000’.
T. rothrockii, July 22, 2021
Senecio soldanella, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Colorado ragwort, Senecio soldanella
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
Mountain Boy, 12,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
One of our only flowers with (often) all-purple leaves, this unmistakeable oddity grows only in alpine scree and only in Colorado, save one high area of New Mexico near Taos. Take pride in this Colorado native!
Convolvulus arvensis, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Field bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis
Family
Morning glory, Convolvulaceae
Location
Weller curve, 9,500
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
A non-native, perennial vine, it will grow up to three feet high. While a bear to beat back, the good news is, it requires disturbed ground (like roadsides) and can’t tolerate being shaded out by trees or shrubs. For these reasons, its impact as an invasive species on the Pass is minimal.
Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina, July 8, 2021
C. alpina, in fruit, Indy Ridge, 12,500’, August 5, 2021
Common & scientific name
Alpine dusty maiden, Chaenactis douglasii var. alpina
Family
Aster, Asteraceae
Location
Mountain Boy, 11,600
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Rayless, with pistils and stamens protruding around and beyond the white disk flowers, this decidedly odd, unmistakeable, and uncommon plant is always a delight to find.
C. douglasii var. alpina, July 8, 2021
Vaccinium scoparium, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Broom huckleberry, Vaccinium scoparium
Family
Heath, Ericaceae
Location
Mountain Boy, 12,200
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Found mostly above treeline, tightly packed with leaves widest at or below the middle, distinguishing it from its (sometimes) neighbor Vaccinium cespitosum, but likes its neighbor, producing sweet little berries come August!
Hieraceum gracile, July 8, 2021
Common & scientific name
Slender hawkweed, Hieracium gracile
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
Mountain Boy, 11,800’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This strange, spindly flower is notable largely for the silver and black hairs covering its flower head, which consists solely of ray flowers (“petals”). As with many sunflowers, after fertilization its flowers create a dandelion-like head of seed-carrying hairs that are disbursed by the wind.