Senecio wootonii, June 6, 2023
Common & scientific name
Wooton’s ragwort, Senecio wootonii
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
Roadside, 9,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
As Senecios go, this one is relatively easy to identify, owing to its smooth, hairless, almost blueish leaves. It is often found in dry meadows or forests (like lodgepoles). Give yourself a round of applause for learning (yet another) Senecio!
Maianthemum amplexicaule, June 6, 2023
June 14, 2023
Common & scientific name
Large false Solomon’s seal, Maianthemum amplexicaule
Family
***Asparagus, Asparagaceae (see below)
Location
Difficult Campground, 8,100’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Loves aspen groves above all, less delicate in its flower than its close relative, Maianthemum stellatum, false Solomon’s seal, and searching for a loving home. Different authorities place it in no less than four families or subfamilies: (1) Liliaceae, Lily, (2) Convallariaceae, Mayflower, (3) Asparagaceae, Asparagus, and (4) Ruscaceae, Butcher’s Broom. Confused yet? Give it ten years and the experts will land on one!
In fruit, September 26, 2023
Trollius albiflorus, June 6, 2023
June 16, Linkins Lake, 12,000’
Common & scientific name
Globeflower, Trollius albiflorus
Family
Buttercup, Ranunculaceae
Location
Lower Lost man, 10,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
These newly-blooming flowers will morph from light yellow to white over the next several days. In addition to marsh marigolds, globeflowers can be confused with Narcissus-flowered anemones, Anemonastrom narcissiflorum, which bloom a bit later and have hairy stems, where globeflowers are hairless.
Caltha chionophila, June 6, 2023
June 13, 2023
Common & scientific name
Marsh marigold, Caltha chionophila
Family
Buttercup, Ranunculaceae
Location
Lower Lost Man, 10,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
As the snow melts and streams & springs emerge, marsh marigolds follow suit. They often emerge alongside or at the same time as globeflowers, Trollius albiflorous. Marsh marigolds can be distinguished by the blue streaks on the back of their flowers, and by their leaves, which are entire, while globeflowers’ are palmate and cut.
Ribes wolfii, June 6, 2023
Common & scientific name
Wolf’s currant, Ribes wolfii
Family
Gooseberry, Grossulariaceae
Location
Difficult Campground, 8,200’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
This common currant is the only Ribes in our area without spines. Unfortunately, its berries are small, spiny-hairy, and bitter—no need for protection!
Castilleja miniata, June 6, 2023
Common & scientific name
Red paintbrush, Castilleja miniata
Family
Broomrape, Orobanchaceae
Location
Roadside, 9,500’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Paintbrushes owe their lovely coloring not to their flowers, but to their bracts, specialized leaves which in this case are red (or orange, or deep red, or . . . ). This species of paintbrush is thought to be the second most widely distributed paintbrush in the world.
Aspen grove below 82, 8,600’, June 30, 2023
Antennaria rosea, June 5, 2023
Geissler, 12,900’, July 21, 2023
Common & scientific name
Rosy pussytoes, Antennaria rosea
Family
Sunflower, Asteraceae
Location
Difficult area, 8,100’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Called “pussytoes” because of their tightly packed flower head’s resemblance to the underside of a cat’s paw, Rosy pussytoes is our loveliest species owing to its bright pink heads. Each colony of pussytoes is a clone with all the plants connected to one another by underground rhizomes, and their evergreen leaf mats cover the ground throughout the four seasons
Linkins Lake area, 12,300’, July 11, 2023
Viola canadensis, June 1, 2023
June 14, 2023
Common & scientific name
Canada violet, Viola canadensis
Family
Violet, Violaceae
Location
Difficult Trail, 8,200’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Canada violets, found scattered throughout our woods, are unmistakeable. They have heart-shaped leaves, bright white petals, and purple lines guiding pollinators to their yellow center. Here they will come into contact with pollen, which will stick to their legs or bodies and be carried to the next flower for cross-pollination. Cross-pollination allows for the exchange of genetic information among plants, leading to the extraordinary diversity we see on our hikes.
Maianthemum stellatum, June 1, 2023
June 1, 2023
Common & scientific name
False Solomon’s seal, Maianthemum stellatum
Family
***Asparagus, Asparagaceae (see below)
Location
Difficult Campground, 8,100’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
Loves aspen groves above all, more delicate in its flower than its close relative, Maianthemum amplexicaule, large false Solomon’s seal, and searching for a loving home. Different authorities place it in no less than four families or subfamilies: (1) Liliaceae, Lily, (2) Convallariaceae, Mayflower, (3) Asparagaceae, Asparagus, and (4) Ruscaceae, Butcher’s Broom. Confused yet? Give it ten years and the experts will land on one!