Tuesday, May 4, 2004

Castilleja miniata, Paintbrush The Paint-brushes hereabouts tend toward oranges and saffrons, some stands with plants of several colors, all very bright. The colorful parts are bracts and sepals around narrow tubes that contain the actual flowers. This plant is partially parasitic, invading for nourishment the roots of other plants its own roots happen to contact. 8:13:17 PM    comment [] Wyethia mollis, Woolly Mule's Ears A lookalike plant for the medicinal Balsamroot, Wyethia mollis grow on dry slopes and clearings in Western U.S. mountains at 4500 to 10,000+ feet elevation. "Mule's ears" is one of the first plants to appear in the spring, the bright-white woolly tips of its first leaves poking up through the soil not long after the last significant snowfall has melted and the days are turning warm. Mule's ears have lanceolate leaves, as shown in the drawing; Balsamroot's leaves are shaped more like arrows, attached to lengthier stems. The Wyethia in the photo grow upslope toward the end of my lane. Yes--all these plants, and we're still just in the driveway! I noticed an Indian paintbrush when I was up there today; I'll go back when the light's better and snap it for the next entry. It's vivid! 2:04:53 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2005 Shirley Mills. Last update: 8/12/05; 3:58:55 PM.