Through the Timber Hills
On a hike through the forests south of Kamloops on a November day, I made a number of observations along the way.
A number of perennials were spotted and identififed by their leaves and their growth habits. There was bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum), many rattlesnake plantains (Goodyera oblongifolia), large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum), nodding onions (Allium cernuum), matte saxifrage (Saxifrage sp.), and alumroot (Heuchera sp). Images are shared here in a gallery. Click an image for a lightbox view and a caption/ID.
On north-facing slopes, in gullies, and in wet spots in the forest were many lichens and an occasional fungus. I spotted freckled pelt lichen (Peltigera aphthosa), Vulpicada (sp.), orange jelly spot (Dacrymyces chrysospermus), witch’s hair (Alectoria sp.), and various Cladonia (C. sp.). I am still learning to identify lichens, mosses, liverworts, and fungi so if you can identify a particular species, please comment.
Some shrubs were also spotted and photographed, including juniper (Jumiperus communis), twinflower (Linnaea borealis) , Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), shrubby penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus), and kinnikinnik (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).
The snows fell soon after this hike and now many of the plants of the upper forests are partly buried, but I will continue to watch for interesting plant life throughout a winter of hiking and snowshoeing.
I really took a lichen to this post! 😂
🙄