Moose Mountain (Part 2 of 2)

 The following flowers were also observed on the Moose Maze Loop Trail yesterday:

Little Yellow Coralroot or Pale Coralroot (Corallorhiza trifida) is rarely seen and much less  common than the Spotted Coralroot (C. maculata) below shown in the third photo

The rare Little Yellow Coralroot lacks photosynthetic chlorophyll and obtains its nutrients through a symbiotic relationship with a fungus which lives on decomposing organic matter

The more common Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata).  The coralroots are in
the Orchid Family

Western Spiderwort or Dayflower (Tradescantia occidentalis) has grass-like infolded leaves and triangular-shaped purple flowers

Dayflower is a more appropriate common name for Tradescantia occidentalis than Spiderwort because the flowers last only one day before they dissolve

A rosette of wavy leaves and very large white flowers characterize the Stemless Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa).  Spent flowers turn pinkish

The flowers of Stemless Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) have four white heart-shaped petals and can be up to 4 inches in diameter.

The large and delicate flower of the spiny Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia polyacantha)

Many-Flowered Puccoon (Lithospermum multiflorum) is a tall leafy plant with loose terminal flower heads 

The flower clusters of Many-Flowered Puccoon (Lithospermum multiflorum) contain 2 to 6 yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, each with five flared lobes

A newly opened Wild Rose (Rosa woodsii) flower

Tragopogon dubius is commonly called Yellow Salsify, Oysterplant, and Goat's Beard.  It is similar to Dandelion in having milky sap and a large ball-shaped fluffy seed head

Snowball Saxifrage or Diamond-Leaf Saxifrage (Saxifraga rhomboidea) has thick diamond-shaped basal leaves and a ball of small white flowers atop a stout leafless stem

Scorpionweed (Phacelia heterophylla), an unattractive bristly plant with dull lavender to white tightly coiled flowers, is common on dry disturbed soils

Skullcap (Scutellaria brittonii) is a short plant in the Mint Family (Labiatae) and found on dry slopes. The purple flowers have a small patch of white on the lower lip

A large mat of Sulfur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum).  This plant is common in dry rocky soils

A flower head of Sulfur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum) just beginning to open.  In this partially opened state it has wonderful color and symmetry

The Bastard Toadflax (Comandra umbellata), not to be confused with the Dalmation Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) in the previous post, has some chlorophyll for photosynthesis, but is also partially parasitic on the roots of other plants from which it derives some nutrients

The Wax Plant (Jamesia americana) is an attractive shrub with fragrant waxy white flowers and peeling bark

The flower stalk of the Yucca or Spanish Bayonet (Yucca glauca) plant contains many bell-shaped creamy white flowers, sometimes tinged with pink

Yellow Stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) has a terminal cluster of star-shaped yellow flowers atop reddish flower stems; find it in sunny dry gravelly soils

Rocky Mountain Ninebark or just Ninebark (Physocarpus monogynus) is another attractive shrub with umbels of white flowers.  The shrub was given the common name of Ninebark because it was initially believed that the plant had nine layers of shredding bark

Flowers of Ninebark (Physocarpus monogynus)

Flower clusters of Buckbrush (Ceanothus fendleri) are a spray of delicate little blossoms

A common penstemon in the spring, the One-Sided Penstemon, also called Orchid Beards Tongue or Side Bells Penstemon (Penstemon secundiflorus) is characterized by gray-green clasping leaves and pink-magenta flowers on one side of the stalk

Parry's Milkvetch (Astragalus parryi) looks somewhat similar to Ground Plum (Astragalus crassicarpus) but the Parry's Milkvetch is found at higher altitudes and has a curved seed pod (lower left of photo). The seed pod of Ground Plum is more round and not distinctly curved

Moose Mountain (Part 1 of 2)

Although not within the borders of the park, but close enough that the wildflowers are the same as in the park, the Moose Maze Loop on Moose Mountain (in the Roosevelt National Forest) was another bonanza for a diverse group of flowers.  More than 60 species were observed in bloom on only a 3-mile hike.  In addition to the ones described on other park trails in earlier posts, these species were also identified:

Contrary to the species name, deliciosus, the Boulder Raspberry fruit is not at all tasty, but basically inedible

The simple and beautiful flowers of the Boulder Raspberry (Rubus deliciosus) can be up to 2 inches across.

The small dense yellowish flower clusters of the Three-Leaf Sumac (Rhus trilobata) shrub.  It can also commonly be called Lemonade Bush and Skunkbrush.  Sumac is in the same family (Anacardiaceae) as Poison Ivy

Rust-colored stamens on the mature flowers of the Sun-Loving Catspaw (Antennaria parvifolia).  The plant, usually less than 6 inches high, is found growing in mats of tiny gray velvety leaves

Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata) is one of the easiest plants to identify in the large Composite Family.  It is a showy plant found on dry slopes from the plains into the montane (8,000-10,000 feet) zone.  Its ray flowers (petals) are each three-lobed and the center disk flowers are either orange or reddish brown and contribute to its handsome appearance

Often overlooked amid tall grasses, Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium montanum) is actually not a true grass but a member of the Iris Family

Not particularly attractive with its greenish-yellow flowers, the Bracted Alumroot (Heuchera bracteata) is common in rock crevices and outcrops.  It differs from the Common Alumroot (next photo below) in having a denser spike of flowers and leaves with sharp teeth

The Common Alumroot or Little-Leaf Alumroot (Heuchera parvifolia) is daintier in stature than the Bracted Alumroot (above), has a looser arrangement of pale yellow flowers on the stalk, and has lobed (not toothed) roundish leaves

The Bush Sunflower (Helianthus pumilus) is recognized by its bushy growth habit and very rough stems and leaves (covered with stiff hairs)

The Colorado Locoweed (Oxytropis lambertii), a member of the Pea (Fabaceae) Family, is the most common locoweed in our area, growing on the plains and into the subalpine (10,000-11,500 feet) zone

Also in the Pea Family, the Drummond Milkvetch (Astragalus drummondii) has individual upward-curved white flowers in a terminal head.  The plant has long pinnate hairy leaves and can be up to 2 feet tall 

All parts (including the onion-like bulb) of the lovely Meadow Death Camus (Zigadenus venenosus) are poisonous!  The plant is found in moist meadows

The creamy white flowers of the Meadow Death Camus (Zigadenus venenosus) have six parts and occur in a terminal cone-shaped cluster

Nelson's Larkspur or Bilobe Larkspur or Early Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum) is a smaller version of the cultivated garden delphinium

A perfect grouping of Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron sp) flowers

Fendler Groundsel or Fendler Senecio (Senecio fendleri) is recognized by its gray-green long thin leaves that have blunt teeth, almost comb-like, on the margins

Fendler Groundsel (Senecio fendleri) showing off the gray-green foliage

Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) with the characteristic drooping flower tips

Common Wild Geranium or Fremont Geranium or Pineywoods Geranium are all common names for Geranium caespitosum

Miner's Candle (Cryptantha virgata), a hairy stout stalk with small white flowers, is common on dry gravelly slopes and in disturbed locations

Dalmation Toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) is an invasive plant on the Colorado Noxious Weed List

The creamy white flowers of Western Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) are in cylindrical racemes up to 2 inches long

The flowers of Spike Gilia (Gilia spicata) are short trumpet-like tubes mostly crowded into a terminal cluster

The terminal flower cluster of Spike Gilia (Ipomopsis spicata)