Maroon, Red
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Ground Cone; Boschniakia rossica
This unusual plant is related to the Squawroot that we have here in the eastern forests. Squawroot is parasitic on oak tree roots, Ground Cone is parasitic on Mountain Alder roots. I found it climbing up the Skyline Trail on my quest for the Chocolate Lily. These plants were the only ones I saw during our 2 week trip.
Scarlet Cinquefoil; Potentilla thurberi
Flagstaff, AZ August, 27, 2010 I spotted this plant growing along the trail when we went to Fisher Point in Sandys Canyon.
Sweetshrub; Calycanthus occidentalis
June 30, 2012 This shrub was growing near the Park Headquarters in Yosemite Valley.
"Horse balls" tree flower
Rayless Sunflower; Helianthus radula
Aster Family Milton, FL I found this flower along the side of the road while I was walking with my husband in my parents' neighborhood in October. It is a very strange flower because it has no rayflowers (petals). Note the greenbriar tendril clasping the stem. Milton was once known as "Scratch Ankle" due to the large amount of scratchy briars that grew everywhere during the early days of the town! :) ***Update*** When we visited in Dec. 2005 we were heartbroken to see that the wooded area where this photo was taken is now being cleared and developed to build more houses. Development is rampant in many parts of Florida.
Marsh Cinquefoil; Potentilla palustris
Rose Family Silver Lake, WA June 28, 2009 I had seen this flower growing in a marsh in Alaska in 2004. Unlike most other Cinquefoil flowers that are yellow or white, these are maroon. I didn't notice what pollinators visited it, but I would imagine they would be beetles or flies.
Red Burnet; Sanguisorba officianalis
I found these blooming in the yard of our bed and breakfast in Healy, just outside of Denali. The host family had planted some interesting wildflowers along the roadside.
Bristly Jewelflower; Streptanthus glandulosis
Kern River Canyon, CA March 24, 2007 This was one of my "target plants", I really didn't expect to see it due to the drought. I was excited to find a patch of them with several plants! They have an unusual, dark maroon flower.
July 3, 2012 It seemed strange to see willows growing and blooming on the ground up by Gaylor Lake.
Ortiga Quepos, Costa Rica March 1, 2011 We made sure we kept our distance from this plant! All parts have nasty spikes that break off in skin when touched.
July 15, 2015
Watershield; Brasenia schreberi
Olympia, WA (Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge) June 30, 2009 This plant also grew in the large pond at the refuge. I took this photo from the boardwalk with my 300mm telephoto lens. The pond was thick with this plant, Duckweed and Bladderwort.
Marsh Cinquefoil; Potentilla palustris
I wasn't thrilled with the way this photo came out, but it was the best of the ones I got. Most cinquefoils are yellow or white, so I was surprised to see one this color.
Dwarf Honeysuckle; Lonicera conjugalis
June 29, 2012 I found this shrub blooming at the riverside below Rainbow Falls at Devils Postpile National Monument.
California Figwort; Scrophularia californica
Snapdragon Family Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park June 26, 2006 These are very odd little flowers. There is an eastern version of this plant too which I have seen in the Smokies.
White Top Pitcher Plants; Sarracenia leucophylla
Milton, FL July 2, 2005 These beautiful and interesting plants are considered threatened because of loss of habitat, too many wetlands are being drained. Because Pitcher Plants live in nitrogen-poor soil, they are carnivorous. They eat insects that are attracted to a sweet liquid at the base of the hollow leaves. Downward-growing hairs on the inside of the leaves prevent the insects from escaping, the exhausted insects fall into the liquid at the base of the leaf. Enzymes in the liquid digest the insects for nourishment. The flowers bloom in the spring, but the old heads remain on the plants late in the year.
Knotige Braunwurz; Scrophularia nodosa
July 23, 2017
Red Swamp Currant; Ribes triste
Rose Family Mt. Rainier National Park June 23, 2009 These plants grew in the mid-elevations of the park.
Chocolate Lily; Fritillaria camschatcensis
Ken and I visited Alaska in June 2004 to celebrate our 24-1/2 wedding anniversary (I don't think we would have seen quite so much if we had gone 6 months later!). This plant is the lead-in for the Alaska site because it required a tremendous amount of effort to find it. I have never worked so hard to see a flower in my life! When we were told it was "just a short way" up the Skyline trail in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge I was anxious do the hike to find it. However, the lady at the Refuge Information desk didn't tell us that the trail went STRAIGHT UP! I found the wilted flowers at about 3/4th mile up the trail. Later, at my cousin's house in Kenai, he told me that the flowers grow in his neighborhood! I found this plant growing across the street on the bank of the Kenai River! When people ask me if the flowers smell like chocolate, my answer is, "Not like it does when it goes in!" The other common name, "Outhouse Lily", is pretty descriptive of their distinctive fecal odor! These stinky flowers are pollinated by flies and beetles. (story)
Mountain Sorrel; Oxyria digyna
June 29, 2012 This plant was growing in dense shade on the cliff near the trail that led to the base of Rainbow Falls.
Musa acuminata Musaceae San José, Costa RicaFeb. 22, 2011Bananas are a major crop in Costa Rica. They are sold still on the stalk in markets. The flowers are unusual looking.
Star Anise; Stinkbush; Illicium floridanum
Munson, FL March 16, 2008 I must finally be making an influence on my husband after 29 years of hiking together! He spotted this flower blooming in the woods while we walked on the boardwalk at Krul Lake Recreation Area. I was so proud of him! :) It was the first time I'd seen this flower, so that made it even more special! The plant is a small tree and it was growing away from the boardwalk, so I had to use my telephoto lens to take this photo. Maroon-colored flowers usually have a foul odor as a means of attracting flies or beetles as their pollinators, I didn't smell this one, but the name "Stinkbush" is a pretty good indicator that the flowers have a bad odor.
Kleine Sommerwurz; Orobanche minor
July 15, 2017 I was so excited to see this rare wildflower growing along the trail while hiking down Laber Mountain! It has no leaves or green color, it is a parasite on the roots of other plants.
Youth-on-Age; Piggy-back Plant; Tolmiea menziesii
Saxifrage Family Mt. Rainier National Park June 22, 2009