steeljef's Favorites

I did not expect to find this one but a welcome surprise for sure. Growing in sphagnum in a quaking bog. The far side of the bog was inundated with glossy buckthorn (someone do something!). Associates include Larix, bogbean, Andromeda, Vaccinium, Sarracenia, Comarum... typical interesting bog plants. Individuals numbered around a few dozen, though I didn't trek the entire bog and count them. Population seems stable.

One of the world's most extraordinary plants survive only on the flanks of Mauna Loa between 5,000 to 8,000 feet (1,500 to 2,500 m). 'Āhinahina are named for the remarkable shine of soft, silver hairs that cover and protect their sword-like leaves. Although they share the same ancestor, Mauna Loa silverswords are distinct from the other species found on Mauna Kea and Haleakalā. Mauna Loa silverswords generally grow fewer "petals" in their flowerheads and their thinner leaves are less hairy. Also remarkable is their life history. It is only once in their lives and only after 10 to 30 years that 'āhinahina send up a spectacular stalk of fragrant flowers as tall as 9 feet (3 meters). Within weeks it goes to seed and its life is concluded—the entire plant dies.

What an incredible encounter! I was just past Panorama Point, searching for White-tailed Ptarmigan when I turned around and saw it running up the snow towards me. It stopped and stared at me for a minute, before bouncing up the snow and continuing up the ridge following before going up and over the ridge and out of view. I got some great photos and took a few videos as well. Quite a surreal experience.

On a sandstone bluff

Stems trailing and rooting at the tips, not glaucous, 2-3mm diameter, with sparse curved prickles 1-2mm long. Leaflets pubescent mainly along the veins abaxially, not white tomentose, coarsely dentate to lobulate. Primocane leaves mainly trifoliate. Leaves, branches, and inflorescences eglandular. Inflorescences ascendant, 1-3 flowered. Pedicels and petioles spreading to ascending villous

Growing on a sandstone bluff ledge in full sun along with little bluestem, big bluestem, prickly-pear cactus, bur oak, side-oats gramma, hairy gramma, and other dry prairie/bluff plants. ID based on dry rocky habitat, thalloid form, and comparison to list of liverworts known for Wisconsin from the Milwaukee Public Museum.

Growing on Betula papyrifera trunk about 15 feet up in well-lit area. ID uncertain, but based on tiny colorless hairs on lobe tips, presence of soredia, black underside with black rhizines extending well beyond the tips.