Plants, Flowers & Lichens
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Torch Ginger or
Etlingera elatior
Etlingera elatior
Maui, Hawaii
Hawaiian Ti plant or
Cordyline fruticosa
Cordyline fruticosa
Maui, Hawaii
Dry prickly thistle plant
f 8, 1/8 sec., 1X, ISO100, 43 Steps at 450 microns per step
Dry prickly thistle plant
f 8, 1/8 sec., 1X, ISO100, 43 Steps at 450 microns per step
Petrified Tree or
Araucarioxylon arizonicum
Araucarioxylon arizonicum
Petrified Tree or
Araucarioxylon arizonicum
Araucarioxylon arizonicum
Petrified tree in the Arizona Petrified Forest National Park
There are miles of large petrified tree logs. Colors range the spectrum of the rainbow and caused by the mineral most prominent.
Black=carbon
Green/blue=copper, cobalt or chromium
Yellow=manganese oxides
Purple=manganese
Brown and red=iron oxides
Arrowleaf Balsamroot or Balsamorhiza sagittata
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Arrowleaf Balsamroot or Balsamorhiza sagittata
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Timothy grass or
Phleum pratense
Phleum pratense
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Timothy grass or
Phleum pratense
Phleum pratense
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Mushroom
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Mushroom
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Alsike clover or
Trifolium hybrdum L.
Trifolium hybrdum L.
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Alsike clover or
Trifolium hybrdum L.
Trifolium hybrdum L.
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Penny-Cress or
Thlaspi arvense
Thlaspi arvense
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Penny-Cress or
Thlaspi arvense
Thlaspi arvense
My brother's house at Island Park, Idaho
Sticky purple geranium or Geranium viscosissimum
my brother's house Island Park, Idaho near Yellowstone. USA
Sticky purple geranium or Geranium viscosissimum
my brother's house Island Park, Idaho near Yellowstone. USA
Wild Pansy or Viola tricolor
Island Park, Idaho at my brother's house
Goats beard or Tragopogon dubius
Island Park, Idaho at my brother's house
The root and young stems, (5 to 10cm), can be eaten as well as at the base of the lower leaves - raw or cooked. These plants tend to be bitter, and unless young or thin, they can be quite fibrous and strong. A long taproot is produced that is thick and fleshy. It tends to be more palatable in its second year of growth.
Desert spoon or
Dasylirion wheeleri
Dasylirion wheeleri
Desert spoon or
Dasylirion wheeleri
Dasylirion wheeleri
A common landscape plant in Southern Arizona. This 'spike' is about 15 feet high and is a haven for several bees species other insects and hummingbirds as they gather nectar and pollen. If you listen closely you can hear in the background the cooing of a Mourning Dove.
Pink Oleander or Nerium oleander
f10 ISO 200 1:2X 1/13sec 6.335mm at 5 steps
Chasteberry or
Vitex agnus-castus
f10 ISO 200 1:4X 1/13 2.155mm 12 steps
Vitex agnus-castus
f10 ISO 200 1:4X 1/13 2.155mm 12 steps
Chasteberry or
Vitex agnus-castus
f10 ISO 200 1:4X 1/13 2.155mm 12 steps
Vitex agnus-castus
f10 ISO 200 1:4X 1/13 2.155mm 12 steps
Desert Sage or Salvia dorrii
f10 ISO 20-0 1_15 6_33 steps at 6 steps
Mexican Bird of Paradise or Erythrostemon mexicana
f10, .2X, ISO 200, 1/15 sec 6.33 mm for 8 steps
Triumph Tulip or Tulipa 'Rambo'
Canon 70D 100 mm f2.8 1/160 sec ISO 640 4 steps
Bottle Brush 'Little John' or
Callistemon citrinus
f16, .20X, .6 sec. two steps
Foxtail Barley grass or
Hordeum jubatum
Hordeum jubatum
Red Yucca or
Hesperalole parviflora
Hesperalole parviflora
iPhone 14 Pro f/2.2 1/99s ISO160 2.22mm
Red-seeded Dandelion or
Taraxacum erythrospermum
Taraxacum erythrospermum
f/20, 1.3 sec, ISO100
Peridot, AZ San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
Silver Puffs or
Uropappus lindleyi
f5.6, .20 sec, 0.65 X, 490um, at 78 steps
Uropappus lindleyi
f5.6, .20 sec, 0.65 X, 490um, at 78 steps
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
f5.6, 1.8X, ISO100, 1/5 sec., 64 steps at 165µ/step
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed or Phacelia crenulata
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Desert Chicory or Rafinesquia neomexicana
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Purple Owl's Clover or
Castilleja exserta
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Mexican Gold Poppy or
Eschscholzia californica
No color alteration. They were this brilliant in the field at Peridot, AZ
Saguaro or
Carnegiea gigantea
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Notch-leaf Scorpionweed or
Phacelia crenulata
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation near Peridot, AZ
Redstem Filaree seed or
Erodium cicutarium
Peridot, Arizona
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
1.5X, f5.6, E.A. f14, ISO 100, 191µ, at 26 steps
Peridot, Arizona
San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation
Landscape includes, Mexican gold poppies on the rocky slopes and hillsides, lupine, owl’s clover, desert chicory and blue dicks. Of course there is the iconic Saguaro cactus. As the weather heats up all the flowers will be gone in a few short weeks.
Wild Canterbury Bells or
Phacelia minor
f20, 0.6 sec., ISO400, 0.75x
Seed Head
Desert thorn-Apple or
Datura discolor seed pod
f5.6, 1/8 sec, ISO100, .5X, 1.462mm at 21 steps
A very toxic plant that has been used by some for its hallucinogenic properties
Desert thorn-Apple or
Datura discolor seeds
f4, 1/3 sec, ISO125, 4X, 0.054mm at 78 steps
Peel back the spike cover and these are the seeds
Hollyhock seed pod or Alcea rosea
f5.6, 2.5x, ISO100, 1_20sec, 135µ at 81 steps
Yellow Lichen on Superstition Mountain Usery Pass Wind Cave in the Sonoran desert is likely a combination of Acarospora radicata and possibly A. chrysops
November 24, 2022 Canon EOS 70D, f/6.3, 1/197s, ISO125, 55mm
There are almost 2,000 desert lichens reported from the Sonoran Region, almost 40% of all lichens known from North America. "The bright neon yellow lichens in the Superstitions Mountains are not one single species. The genus indeed is Acarospora, but there are several closely related species present in the area, often difficult to distinguish. The larger, more exuberant squamulose are mostly Acarospora radicata (previously often called A. socialis, but that is considered a coastal species now). The less exuberant specimens might be A. chrysops, but there are a few others too.
More importantly:Generally speaking, it is not possible to identify lichens reliably just from photos. There are too many important characteristics missing in a photo. The yellow Acarospora species are among the most notoriously difficult ones. That's ironic since they are such a very conspicuous element of the desert. Some people assume that the large and conspicuous macrolichens should be easier to identify than inconspicuous crusts. Wrong again. In the desert for example Xanthoparmelia are large, foliose macrolichens, but they are chemically very diverse and it's often impossible to distinguish them without knowing their secondary chemistry." Frank Bungartz, Ph.D., Collections Manager of Lichens and Digital Data, Natural History Collections, Arizona State University,USA
Desert Shaggy mane Mushroom, podaxis postillaris
Nodding Pincushion,
Leucospermum cordifolium
Located on the Island of Maui near the north slopes of the Haleakala volcano.
Taken with iPhone SE (2nd generation)
f/1.8, 1/208s, ISO20, 3.99mm
Nodding Pincushion,
Leucospermum cordifolium
Located on the Island of Maui near the north slopes of the Haleakala volcano.
Taken with iPhone SE (2nd generation)
f/1.8, 1/208s, ISO20, 3.99mm
Showy Asian Grapes
At the Maui Garden of Eden
Canon EOS 70D, f/4.0, 1/166s, ISO 640, 105mm
At the Maui Garden of Eden
Canon EOS 70D, f/4.0, 1/166s, ISO 640, 105mm
Navel Orange or Citrus sinensis with Blue Mold or
Penicillium digitatum
Penicillium digitatum
f5.6, 1/6 sec., 100 ISO, 2.5X, 157 shots at 136 µm
Summer Bunch Rot (Sour Rot) or
Rhizopus arrhizus
On a Thompson seedless grape
f/8, 1 sec, ISO 100, 5X, 66 steps at 84 microns
white fungus or
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Common mold on many root crops usually in storage
f5.6, 1/80 sec, 100 ISO,1X, 42 shots at 503µ step
Imperator 58 carrot or Daucus carota subsp. sativus
with white fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
with white fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Common mold on many root crops usually in storage
f5.6, 1/80 sec, 100 ISO,1X, 42 shots at 503µm step
The name of this prickly pear is not to be taken lightly and should be approached cautiously. When taking this photo I brushed up against the cactus. I noticed red glochids all over my camera. Without thinking I quickly blew off the spines which caused them to fly into my right eye. It took two trips to an Ophthalmologists with a painfully swollen, infected eye to have the spines removed one at a time under a microscope with surgical tweezers. It is a red beauty that carries a powerful punch in the face.
Asclepias subulata or Desert Milkweed infested with aphids
Asclepias subulata or Desert Milkweed infested with aphids
Oreocereus celsianus or Old Man of the Andes
Yucca baccata or Banana Yucca
Adenium 'Crimson'
Star Desert Rose
Star Desert Rose
Echeveria runyonii
Euphorbia tirucalli or
Fire Sticks
Pilosocereus azureus or Blue Torch Cactus
Ferocactus pilosus or
Mexican fire barrel
Mexican fire barrel
Pursh or
Phlox Speciosa
Unknown grass in black & white
This wild grass seed pods with multiple curls surrounds stems on other plants and locks on to it.
Blue Grama or
Bouteloua gracilis
Bouteloua gracilis
Rose or Rosa sp.
Dead Rose, f5.6, ISO 100, 1/30 sec, 1X, 29 Shots, 487µm
Rose or Rosa sp.
Dead rose stamen, anther and filament. f4, 100 ISO, 1/30 sec, 4.5X, 47 µm step 103 shots
Myrtillocactus geometrizans or
Crested Blue Myrtle
Astraeus hygrometricus or
Hygroscopic Earthstar
Hygroscopic Earthstar
Canyon Point Campground
Agave Victoria-Regenae or Queen Victoria Agave
I only got poked once, taking this photo. Nothing in the eye.
Black-Spined Prickly Pear or
Opuntia macrocentra
Opuntia macrocentra
Fouquieria splendens or
Ocotillo branch
Ocotillo branch
Fouquieria splendens or
Ocotillo
Ocotillo
Pachypodium lamerei or Madagascar palm cactus
This is not a palm or a cactus
Solenostemon x scutellarioides
Calliandra eriophylla or
Fairy Duster
Fairy Duster
Calliandra eriophylla or
Fairy Duster
Fairy Duster
Aloe principis
Aloe principis
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa or
Silver Cholla
Pilosocereus pachycladus
Blue Ghost
This cactus turns from green to a pale blue towards the top of the plant
Cereus Repandus
or Peruvian Apple Cactus
or Peruvian Apple Cactus
Hiding a white spider
Cereus Repandus
or Peruvian Apple Cactus
or Peruvian Apple Cactus
Large bright fruit. To eat, select firm fruits that have just barely begun to split open and aren't bruised. Peel away the red outer skin or cut the fruit in half and scoop out the soft white flesh that has small black seeds like a kiwi. They usually are eaten raw. Dice the flesh and add to salads, smoothies, fruit salads or desserts.
Mammillaria parkinsonii or
Qwl's Eyes
This is considered an endangered species
Mammillaria parkinsonii or
Qwl's Eyes
This is considered an endangered species
Tephrocactus articulates formerly known as Opunta diademata or Pinecone Cactus
Hibiscus bud
Larrea tridentata or
Creosote seed pod
Creosote seed pod
When it rains in the desert this give off a unique, fresh, pleasant smell that is a combination of several volatile oils, mostly terpene (a compound found in pines), limonene (citrus), camphor (pines and rosemary), methanol (wood alcohol), and 2-undecanone (spices).
Larrea tridentata or
Creosote flower and pod
Creosote flower and pod
When it rains in the desert creosote gives off a unique, fresh, smell that is a result of several compounds but mostly terpene (a compound found in pines), limonene (citrus), camphor (pines and rosemary), methanol (wood alcohol), and 2-undecanone (spices).
Pilosocereus azureus
or Blue Palo Verde Tree
Pilosocereus azureus
or Blue Palo Verde Tree
Acacia craspedocarpa or
Leather Leaf Acacia
Leather Leaf Acacia
Simmondsia chinensis or
Jojoba
Jojoba
Mammillaria canelensis or
Pincushion Cactus
Pincushion Cactus
Synonym(s): Mammillaria bellacantha, Mammillaria standleyi
Mammillaria canelensis or
Pincushion Cactus
Pincushion Cactus
Melocactus conoideus
The pink object is a seed pod
Prosopsis velutina or
Velvet Mesquite tree
Velvet Mesquite tree
Trichocereus spachianus
Golden Torch Cactus
Corrvocactus erectus or
Red Hot Chili Poker
Alluadia procera or African ocotillo
Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus or
Paper Spine Cactus
Paper Spine Cactus
Ferocactus wislizeni or Arizona barrel cactus
Barrel cactus that bloom in the spring develop small fruits resembling pineapples. The flesh is tart with a lemon flavor.
Ferocactus wislizeni or Arizona barrel cactus
Also called fish hook cactus
Cereus forbesii 'Spiralis'
Callistemon citrinus or
Little john
Little john
Chamerops humilis or
European Fan Palm
Chamerops humilis or
European Fan Palm flower pod
Yellow pollen blew all over my camera and hand taking this pic.
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
or Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
Showing ants and aphids
Echinocereus triglochidiatus
or Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus
Note ants grooming aphids
Lophocereus schottii var. schottii
or Senita
Opuntia polyacantha var. erinaceae
or Grizzly Bear Pricklypear
Ambrosia deltoidea or triangleleaf bursage
Alow dorotheae or sunset aloe
This is a critically endangered plant species
Fouquieria columnaris or Boojum Tree is native to Baja Peninsula and Northern Mexico
Aloe dichotoma or Quiver Tree
Native Nambia to South Africa
Stenocereus pruinosus or Pitayo
Guaiacum angustifolium or Soapbush
Guaiacum angustifolium or Soapbush
Guaiacum angustifolium or Soapbush
Odd shaped leaf
Opuntia engelmannii or
Grand Canyon Prickly-pear
Found in the Grand Canyon, Arizona
Not the assassin bug hiding in the shadows on the lower right joint
Sphaeralcea ambigua or
Desert Mallow
Desert Mallow
Agave bovicornuta or
Cow's Horn Agave
Cow's Horn Agave
Ferocactus emoryi ssp. rectispinus or
Straight-spined Barrell Cactus
Straight-spined Barrell Cactus
Ferocactus emoryi ssp. rectispinus or
Straight-spined Barrell Cactus
Straight-spined Barrell Cactus
Thymophylla pentachaeta or
Golden fleece
Golden fleece
Thymophylla pentachaeta or
Golden fleece
Golden fleece
Guaiacum angustifolium or Soapbrush
Cylindropuntia ramosissima or Diamond Cholla
Cylindropuntia ramosissima or Diamond Cholla
Note the lacewing on the right side
Anemopsis californica or
Yerba-Mansa
Yerba-Mansa
Fresh roots or dried roots boiled are used medicinally.
http://naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/a/anemopsis-californica=yerba-mansa.php
Drosanthemum speciosum
'Rosea' #1
'Rosea' #1
Califlora Feed Back
or Bearded purple Iris
or Bearded purple Iris
Agave attenuata or Foxtail Agave
Euphorbia xantii or
Cherry Blosson Euphorbia
Cherry Blosson Euphorbia
Agapanthus or
Lily of the Nile African Lily
Lily of the Nile African Lily
Plumbago auriculata or
Cape Plumbago
Cape Plumbago
Knotted Hedge Parsley
or Torilis nodosa
or Torilis nodosa
Note the three aphids
Knotted Hedge Parsley or
Torilis nodosa
Torilis nodosa
Antelope horns
or Asclepias asperula
or Asclepias asperula
Camping at Pine Groves north of Mormon Lake
Doubting Mariposa Lily or
Calochortus ambiguus
Calochortus ambiguus
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Pursh or Phlox Speciosa
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Trichosereus spachiana
or Golden Torch Cereus
or Golden Torch Cereus
Trichosereus spachiana
or Golden Torch Cereus plant
or Golden Torch Cereus plant
Pursh or
Phlox Speciosa
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Polemoniaceae, Phlox Speciosa, plants, showy phlox, wildflowers, pink flowers
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Polemoniaceae, Phlox Speciosa, plants, showy phlox, wildflowers, pink flowers
Pursh or
Phlox Speciosa
Pine Groves camp ground north of Mormon Lake
Polemoniaceae, Phlox Speciosa, plants, showy phlox, wildflowers, pink flowers
Dandelion "2" :) or Taraxacum officinale
The number 2 shape is from the stigma and has not been altered. Looks like it was typed on the flower
Dandelion "7" :) or Taraxacum officinale
The number 7 shape is from the stigma and has not been altered. Looks like it was typed on the flower
Wheeler's Thistle or
Cirsium wheeleri
Cirsium wheeleri
Canyon Point Campground
Wheeler's Thistle or
Cirsium wheeleri
Cirsium wheeleri
Canyon Point Campground
Red Stem Filaree or
Erodium cicutarium
Erodium cicutarium
1.5X, f5.6, E.A.14, ISO 100, 191um, at 26 steps
Torrey's Craglily or Echeandia flavescens
Canyon Point campground, Arizona
This is a native perennial and is a true lily, a member of the Lily Family (Liliaceae). It is found in Southwestern coniferous forests, and it blooms from late summer to early fall.
The yellow-orange flowers appear to have 6 petals, but if you look closely it only has 3 broad petals and 3 narrower sepals the same color as the petals.
Orange Lichen or
possibly Squamulea squamosa or Rusavskia elegans
possibly Squamulea squamosa or Rusavskia elegans
f9, 1X, 1/6 sec, 100 ISO, 57um, at 282 steps
Transyleaf aster or
Machaeranthera trnacetifolia
Machaeranthera trnacetifolia
Pine Grove Campground near Flagstaff, Az
Has two beetles on it too!
Wheelers's Thistle or
Cirsium whelleri
Cirsium whelleri
covered with beetles