Marginal sori on Tectaria moorei
Usually, ferns have their spore-bearing structures (or sori) on the surface of the frond or lamina (e.g., Polypodium glycyrrhiza). Sometimes, as in Adiantum shastense (see image in comments), the sori are marginal or on the edge of the frond. A third scenario is presented today: stalked marginal sori that extend from the tips of the veinlets.
Flowers of Pelargonium carnosum
Fleshy-stalk pelargonium is a drought-deciduous succulent native to South Africa and Namibia. How fleshy is the stalk? Very.
Halophytes, or salt-tolerant plants, are found in a number of environments: seashores, mangrove swamps, salt marshes & swamps, and, as in today’s photographs, saline semi-deserts. Two halophytic grasses, saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) and alkali-grass (Puccinellia nuttalliana), make an appearance in the images. The top image primarily features saltgrass with perhaps some alkali-grass in the upper right corner. The swath of finer-textured taller grasses in the second image is comprised of alkali-grass, while the coarser-textured salt-grass occurs along the edge of the swath and is dotted among the salt-encrusted soil.
Continue reading “Distichlis spicata and Puccinellia nuttalliana”
Flowers and foliage of Anisotome procumbens
The intriguing and diminutive Anisotome procumbens looks like it came straight from a Dr. Seuss book when photographed with a macro lens!
The flowers of Crocus rujanensis
Scientifically described in 1990, Crocus rujanensis is native to southern Serbia and adjacent Macedonia in oak-hornbeam forests, mixed Hungarian-Turkey oakwoods, Dianthus meadows, degraded shrublands, and grasslands.
Close-up of Cytisus scoparius
Cytisus scoparius is one of the west coast of North America’s most notorious invasive species. Commonly known as Scot’s broom, its yellow flowers will flood disturbed landscapes of the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island each spring.
Calocedrus decurrens, or incense-cedar, has broad habitat requirements. Within its range from Oregon to Baja California, it is most often found in hot and dry sites with poor soils. However, the tallest individuals typically occur in “sunny, well-watered sites such as riparian areas in canyons or near subalpine lakeshores“.
