This gallery contains 9 photos.
Most people have heard of purple sage. Even as a native Pennsylvanian, I read Zane Grey’s Riders of the Purple Sage in my youth. However, when I first encountered Salvia dorrii, it was introduced to me as desert sage. I … Continue reading
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Continuing on the bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) theme: The yeast-like sac fungus Taphrina confusa induces witches’ brooms on several Prunus species. Although the western choke cherry (P virginiana) and Sierra plum (P subcordata) are most often infected, Leonard and … Continue reading
This gallery contains 5 photos.
By August, red drupes have formed from the white bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) flowers discussed in my previous post (see “Bitter Cherry” on 03-17-19). Bitter cherry fruits are very bitter and astringent. I can attest to how unpalatable these pretty … Continue reading
This gallery contains 9 photos.
Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) is a native shrub or small tree found from British Columbia to Baja and east into the Rocky Mountain States. The two varieties of P emarginata are distinguished, in part, by their growth form: one more … Continue reading
This gallery contains 6 photos.
While visiting the John Muir National Historic Site (Martinez CA) I was captivated by specimens of Santa Cruz Island buckwheat (Eriogonum arborescens). This shrub has an interesting form and was unlike most of the buckwheat species common in Northeastern California … Continue reading
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Mule fat has two phenological forms. (Phenological refers to periodic biological phenomenon that are related to climatic conditions.) In the summer this native shrub has terminal inflorescences and the leaves are more likely to be toothed. In spring and fall … Continue reading
This gallery contains 8 photos.
Huckleberry oaks (Quercus vacciniifolia) are prostrate to low shrubs. They can be spreading or erect, growing up to 5 feet in height. These evergreen shrubs grow on cliffs, ridges, rocky slopes and shallow soils, including serpentine soils, in montane and … Continue reading
