On a warm mid-May morning I hiked for 2 hours on a grasslands-benchland, sometimes known as the Lower Rose area. It was a combination of hiking-exercise and a nature-hike. There were no other people on the trails, but the area is also used by dog-walkers, hikers, and mountain bikers at busier times. there were a few birds in the … Continue reading →
Small-flowered Penstemon (Penstemon procerus) is a perennial in the figwort family. It grows from a woody base and often forms clumps. The green leaves are oval to lanceolate, growing oppositely and a few leaves grow around the bae on short stems. Small purple-blue flowers grow in whorls around the stem. After flowering, capsules form with many seeds. They … Continue reading →
Old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) is a clump-forming perennial in the rose family which flowers in spring on the Interior Plateau of B.C. Other common names are prairie smoke or purple avens. It spreads by rhizomes and establishes a mat of old leaf bases over time. In spring a cluster of basal leaves appear. Many compound, divided leaves … Continue reading →
We have stayed on Denman Island in spring a couple of times to hiking, kayak, and explore the island. There were many plants emerging from winter dormancy at this time of year, and lots of flowering shrubs and wildflowers to observe. Many photos are taken and a few are shared in this post. Included in this album are photos … Continue reading →
We have spotted one-flowered broomrape (Aphylon uniflorum) on open south-facing damp slopes a couple of times. It is also called one-flowered cancer root and naked broomrape and it is in the Orobanche family. It is a parasitic herb, feeding on stonecrop and other plants. It is short, with a bare stalk and has a purple tube-like flower. We … Continue reading →
Chocolate lily (Fritillaria affinis sp.) is a perennial lily which grows from a bulb in spring. Many people call it checker lily. Each year the plant produces bulblets which help with propagating the species. An unbranched stem usually has a few whorled leaves which are linear to lanceolate-shaped. Two to five bell-shaped flowers appear in spring. The flower has … Continue reading →
There are three native orchids on the Hawaiian islands, mostly found in higher areas in rain forests, and often in the trees. They are rare and not easy to find. There are many orchids featured in botanical gardens and show gardens from all over the world. There are two orchids, though, that have become endemic/naturalized to the islands … Continue reading →
Blue-eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sp.) is a short, stiff perennial in the iris family. Most of the ones spotted in our area are Idaho blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchrum idahoense sp.), but Mountain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) is quite similar and may also be found in pockets in the Interior area. They grow from fibrous roots to as much as 30 cm. … Continue reading →
Upland larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum) is a perennial which grows from a tuberous many-branched root. Tall stalks rise 15 – 40 cm. Most of the leaves are basal. The leaves are palmate and divided/lobed. Purple/blue flowers emerge at the top of stems and on long pedicels. The petals tend to be lighter colored (blue-whitish) and the sepals are usually blue-violet … Continue reading →
Western Rattlesnake Plantain (Goodyera oblongifolia) is an evergreen perennial in the orchid family which can be spotted in our mid-elevation forests of the Southern Interior. From thick roots and spreading rhizomes Goodyera often spreads, forming small colonies. A basal cluster of dark green leaves are oval – lanceolate and have a whitish streak down the middle. Stiff stems rise … Continue reading →
