catullus's Favorites

Say Hello to 'Bubba.' This magnificent, adult, male Mohave ground squirrel (MGS; Xerospermophilus mohavensis) was captured and released near Coso Junction, California, on June 6, 2019. It was a bit late in the year to capture an adult MGS, especially one so obviously well fed, above ground. That is because this species not only hibernates through the winter months, but it estivates through the hottest months of the summer; they hibernate or estivate for ~7 months of the year. Sadly, because of the pandemic, I could not return to my field site in 2020 and it does not look very promising either for 2021.

Growing in association with A. tomentosa tomentosa, A. tomentosa bracteosa, A. hookeri hookeri and lots of A. pumila on a narrow strip of undeveloped land near the Monterey Airport. Not really an expected location for this species, but it's clearly been there a long time and it seems like an unlikely spot to plant one.

Argh! Recent techno hell: my phone has stopped recording exact GPS coordinates on photos for some reason. All photos from today were located in one spot on Hicks Road, even though they were actually taken along Mt Umunhum trail. So the location for this is imprecise.

Bonny Doon Ecological Preserve

This one was pretty odd.

-leaves and new growth covered in canescent hair, both faces
-leaves are strongly lobed, most are totally apetiolate, some have reduced petioles
-immature inflorescence is leafy, open, and canescent
-no root burl
-fruit had unfused stones

Of the local taxa, I'm only really sure that it isn't sensitiva. Perhaps a hybrid?

Patch with two fully flowering, one just about open, one flowering but not open, one still emerging, and numerous stalks with no flower. This entry has the best flower. Rather pleased with myself getting to see this.

January 2021: discovered seed stems: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/67564815
August 2021: located new season plants, beginning to flower: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/90243891

relocated spot, found two with one starting to flower without too much hassle. A bit early. Maybe 2-3 weeks I'll have another look.

January 2021: discovered seed stems: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/67564815
September 2021: patch of several plants, some in flower: https://inaturalist.nz/observations/93238739
https://inaturalist.nz/observations/93238742