02/17/08 Fancy Flowers of Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley National Park is in a hot, dry, unfriendly desert as the name implies, but it does not follow that it is barren. Many plants and animals have become adapted to these harsh conditions, and are able to take advantage of the sporadic thunder storms in numerous microclimates. The winter of 2007–8, was not a particularly wet one, and some areas received practically no precipitation and thus were almost without any signs of plant life. Desert plant seeds can wait for years for a little moisture and then go through their life cycle only to become dormant until they are favored with rain again.
Below you will find pictures of some of the more interesting plants Jean found in the Park this February.

Desert Sunflower, Geraea canescens A. Gray

Phacelia calthifolia Brand.

Yellow Cups,

Camissonia brevipes (A. Gray) Raven

Camissonia claviformis
(Torrey & Frémont) A. Gray

Rock Nettle,
Eucnide urens (A. Gray) C. Parry

Five Spot,
Eremalche rotundifolia
(A. Gray) E. Greene

Langloisia setosissima
(Torr. & A. Gray) E. Greene

Mohavea brevifolia Cov.

Gilia latifolia S. Wats.

Dalea mollissima
(Rydb.) Munz

Eriogonum brachyanthum Cov.

Anulocaulis annulatus (bud)
(Cov.) Standley

Honey Sweet, (seedling)
Tidestromia oblongifolia
(S. Wats.) Standley

Coming up next: a gas saver—two nearby parks—Fremont Peak State Park near Monterey, California and Pinnacles National Monument, a rock climbers paradise.