Mouse click a thumbnail to see a larger image and informational details below the photos. Most thumbnails have three clickable views; flower, plant, and foliage. The selected image will stay visible until another slide is clicked.
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Twolobe Larkspur -or- Nelson Larkspur (Delphinium nelsonii) -or- (Delphinium nuttallianum), family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) and more recently Helleboraceae (Hellebore).
Plant location: Sighted at Hwy 72 and Plainview Rd Colorado on May 26, 2011.
Bloom season: Varies by location, commonly March through as late as July. -
Stalkpod Locoweed -or- Stalked-pod Crazyweed (Oxytropis podocarpa), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean). Thank you, Amy Schneider - Denver Botanic Gardens - for identifying this species. And to ranger Mike Foley, stationed at the Goliath Natural Area, who made sure we did not miss this less than common species.
UPDATE: Note the additional insets of the plant's fruits. The pod inset in the flower view was less developed and still has a remaining bit of flower still showing at it's tip. For a more mature pod click on the plant view. The flowers as originally seen on the 15th of June were already a bit less than prime. A mere 13 days later, June 28, 2011, pollination has taken place and the plant's pod are well under way. Every flower on the plant has whithered away leaving just fruit in varying stages of development.
Plant location: Found in the Goliath Natural Area on Mt Evans on June 15, 2011. GPS coordinates: N39°38.554 W105°35.560 - Elevation: 11,518'. This species is found only in three of the United States USA - CO, MT, WY, and in Canada - AB, BC, LB, NU, QC. The plants are considered to be seriously endangered in Montana.
Bloom season: June through unknown. -
Two-Grooved Milkvetch -or- Silver-Leafed Milkvetch (Astragalus bisulcatus), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean). This example of blue/purple bisulcatus was in bloom near Florence Colorado even though drought conditions had prevailed in the area during the early spring. We were pleased to see at least some wildflowers on the outing. Plants with fruit pods already formed (thus proving the identity of these peas) were a bonus.
The species hazard to livestock is well described by WIKIPEDIA: 'The Astragalus bisulcatus accumulates large quantities of selenium when grown on soils that have selenium, the plant produces amino acids where sulfur is replaced by selenium. Most animals avoid Astragalus bisulcatus because of the musky odor of the dimethyl selenium compounds contained in the plants tissues. Yet, sheep and cattle have indulged in eating the plant, becoming victims of selenium toxicity. Sheep can die in thirty minutes from eating a half a pound of Astragalus bisulcatus, and in 1907 and 1908, approximately 15,000 sheep in Wyoming died with symptoms of either alkali disease or the blind staggers; both of which were outcomes of digesting a large amount of selenium from Astragalus bisulcatus.' End quote.
See our white example of bisulcatus here.
Plant location: Discovered in the Holcim Wetlands near Florence Colorado on May 4, 2011. GPS coordinates: N38°23.659 W105°01.804 - Elevation: 5052'. The USDA Plant Database shows this species in the following states: AZ, CO, ID, KS, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, SD, UT, WY.
Bloom season: March through June in Colorado. -
Alfalfa subspecies (Medicago sativa), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean). Originally published as an unknown Vicia (yellow) back in 2008, we have since learned more about this plant.
There are 5 subspecies of sativa. Two of the 5 are shown in the United States. One, falcata, is called yellow alfalfa and is one of those 2 found in the United States according to the USDA Plant Database. Images of it that we have seen, however, show blue-purple flowers and it's fruits differ from our specimen. Of the remaining subspecies, sativa (also known as varia), is the only other shown in the United States. Little information is available, not enough for us to be comfortable making a declaration that our specimen is in fact that subspecies. Our specimen remains something of a mystery. Check out the plant slide to see the wild looking fruit/seed pods of this plant.
FUN FACT: Also on the site is a white -and- yellow example of this species. ALL THREE colors came from the SAME PLANT!
Plant location: Seen July 27, 2007 when Mark was dual sport motorcycle riding in Twisp Washington.
Bloom season: Probably similiar to sativa, May through September. -
Flaxflowered Ipomopsis -or- Pale Trumpets -or- Paleflower gilia -or- White-flower skyrocket -or- White-flowered gilia (Ipomopsis longiflora), family Polemoniaceae (Phlox).
Plant location: Found on an embankment along Hwy 128, Colorado, on June 11, 2011. GPS coordinates: N39°54.990 W105°06.850 - Elevation: 5547'.
Bloom season: June through August. -
Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine -or- Alpine Blue Columbine -or (ours) Alpine Dwarf Columbine (Aquilegia saximontana), family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup). Another less common plant is found in the Goliath Natural area. This species is only in Colorado!
Plant location: Photographed in the Goliath Natural Area - Mt. Evans - Colorado - on June 29, 2011. GPS coordinates: N39°38.546 W105°35.562 - Elevation: 11,521'. The hooked little spurs on the back of the flower is distinctive of the species.
Bloom season: June through August. -
Blue-Eyed Mary -or- Maiden Blue-Eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora), family Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon).
Plant location: Two sightings: Roxborough Park Colorado on May 17, 2011 - GPS coordinates: N39°25.556 W105°04.021 - Elevation: 6177'
Bloom season: March through May. -
Upright Blue Beardtongue -or- Wandbloom Penstemon (Penstemon virgatus), family Plantaginaceae (Plantain). Was placed in Scrophulariaceae (Snapdragon) and is still often found there. This species is listed by the USDA Plant Database as ONLY in Arizona and New Mexico. It clearly has traveled. A number of other sources have recorded this plant in Colorado including a listing of it by Weber And Whittmann in COLORADO FLORA EASTERN SLOPE.
Plant location: Photographed on June 28, 2011 - Chicago Creek Rd near Idaho Springs Colorado - GPS coordinates: N39°43.260 W105°34.079 - Elevation: 7971'.
Bloom season: June and July. -
American Vetch (Vicia americana), family Fabaceae (Pea/Bean).
Plant location: Found on an embankment along Hwy 128, Colorado, on June 11, 2011. GPS coordinates: N39°54.990 W105°06.850 - Elevation: 5547'.
Bloom season: March through August. -
Pinnate-leaved Daisy -or- Featherleaf Fleabane (Erigeron pinnatisectus), family Asteraceae (Aster/Sunflower).
Plant location: Photographed in the Goliath Natural Area on Mt.Evans on June 28, 2011. GPS coordinates: N39°38.558 W105°35.565 - Elevation: 11,526'. These little pleasers are found only in Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Bloom season: July through August. -
Rydberg Penstemon -or- Meadow Penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii), family Plantaginaceae (Plantain).
Plant location: Photographed at Hwy 72 and Plainview Rd, Colorado, on May 25, 2011.
Bloom season: May to July. -
Asian Forget-Me-Not -or- Mountain Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis asiatica), family Boraginaceae (Borage). State flower of Alaska.
Plant location: Photographed along U.S. 212 (Beartooth Hwy) - closest town Powell Wyoming - August 30, 2009. GPS coordinates: N44°58.147 W109°28.316 - Elevation: 10,948'. Found in the following United States: AK, CO, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY.
Bloom season: June through August.