Parry's Penstemon
This showy plant produces clusters of stems with multiple pink flowers. "Penstemon" means "five stamens". Multiple specimens were found in the sandy wash bed during the hike.
Caliche Globemallow
A very common spring flower seen along the roadsides and trails in the area. "Caliche" is a hard layer of calcium carbonate rock that is found under the topsoil. This is identified from other Globemallow species by dark purple stamens (not quite visible in this photo) and wider spacing between flower branches.
Desert Onion
Examples of this plant were found in a very limited area along the trail. I've not seen them in any other locations before or since.
Barestem Larkspur
Larkspurs are beautiful, distinctive flowers found in various biotic zones. This was another flower found in a very discreet location along the trail. One of the guidebooks specifically mentioned its location along this trail, so I feel lucky to have seen it.
Barestem Larkspur - close-up view
I'm nuts about this globemallow thingie. I don't think I've ever seen one. It's like...a poppy tree.
ReplyDeleteThe globemallow shrubs (they are maybe 2 1/2' high?) were *everywhere* in Tucson: growing wild, and used as landscaping along paths and roads! The flowers on this caliche globemallow are about 1" across, but they do look like miniature poppies, don't they? I have photos of pink and lavender varieties of the desert globemallow which is similar.
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