Category Archives: Uncategorized
Chemical Soil Crusts
Salt crusts are the most common type of chemical soil crusts. They occur throughout the world in arid and semiarid regions with intense evaporation and little precipitation. Salts accumulate in soils because of limited or reduced leaching. When salt crystals … Continue reading
Microbiotic Soil Crusts
Three types of crusts form on the soil surface: biological, chemical and physical. Biological crusts are known by many different names including biocrusts and cryptobiotic, microbiotic, cryptogamic or microphytic crusts. I use the term microbiotic crusts. These biological crusts contain … Continue reading
Superfetation
One possible reason for delayed implantation of the embryo (see Delayed Implantation 01-05-22) is superfetation. Superfetation is when a female continues ovulation after successful breeding until the end of its breeding season. That is, a female can ovulate and conceive … Continue reading
Western Boykinia
Western boykinia (Boykinia occidentalis) grows in moist shady woods and along the banks of streams from sea level to mid-elevations. This native perennial is found in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. These specimens were photographed in May along the … Continue reading
Spotted Coralroot
Spotted coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata) is a parasitic member of the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae). It has no chlorophyll and instead derives its nutrition from fungi which in turn are parasites on the roots of living plants. A native perennial, spotted coralroot … Continue reading