Favoritos de andrew_dudley

Of a newly discovered site (2021), not previously referenced by Staniforth & Frego (2000). "#17"

This particular individual (observably one of the oldest, from both the existing and newly discovery subsites "#1-20") likely remained hidden during the 1980s when vandals nearly decimated what is otherwise North America's eastern-most occurring O. fragilis (Nutt.) Haw. element, of which is incredibly disjunct. (Staniforth & Frego 2000; Majure & Ribbens 2012; Hancock et al. 2013, Mottiar et al. 2015; Hollingshead 2024)

Specimens of a subtlety different spinal morphology from the O. fragilis that are also present at this site.

Duplicate observations:

https://www.inaturalist.ca/observations/163216345

https://www.inaturalist.ca/observations/169529967

Not 100% sure because I wasn’t specifically seeking them out at the time, but I think these are actually sclero wrightiae. They fit the general description of soil type, shorter stature, and they technically occur just barely inside their range published by USFWS to the north-east of Emery, but this is also an unfortunate area that overlaps with parviflorus. This would be very unusual soil for parviflorus though, AND, the main thing that interests me is how there is plenty of seeds from the previous spring still attached to or on the plant. Never seen that before with any parvs or other scleros. Habitat as you can see is barren clay. Any help would be appreciated because this one is definitely confusing me. I will leave it un-obscured for now until I can hopefully get an ID. Side note, at least half of this population was dead and/or eaten unfortunately.

Some absolute monsters in this population with a good mix of flower colors. There is so many it was difficult to even get around. Really good looking young ones too. Hands down the healthiest and coolest simpsonii population I’ve ever seen. Managed to scrounge about 15 seeds from the blooming large clump 🤞🏻 8600’