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What a highlight to see this milkweed. All the adaptations to survive in this habitat are so sick, from the woolly hairs on the distal portions of the plant to protect from UV light and prevention of water loss, to the rhizome system that anchors it below the ever shifting dunes.

When I originally posted this observation as A. fasciculatum, which is what this keys out as in the Flora of the PNW 2nd edition, I was skeptical of the IDs I received from others for A. franciscanum. I dug a little deeper and found a recent journal article, with an updated Aphyllon key, that describes the later species. That journal article is here: https://bioone.org/journals/systematic-botany/volume-46/issue-2/036364421X16231782047479/Morphometrics-and-Redescription-of-Aphyllon-fasciculatum-and-Aphyllon-franciscanum-Two/10.1600/036364421X16231782047479.full

Approximately 90-100 plants of Lewisiopsis tweedyi in an approximate 3 acre area. Growing on a very steep slope (approx. 45-50%) with partially vegetated areas with exposed unstable soil with cobbles, stones, and boulders. Partially vegetated areas interspersed with areas of open low shrub with Ceanothus sp., Paxistima myrsinities, and Mahonia aquifolium. Also, there were a few small stands of Pinus ponderosa and Psuedotsuga menziesii. The area burned in the 2021 Cub Creek fire.

Similar to Fendlerella and Philadelphus (Hydrangeaceae) but with a unique combination of linear leaves, petals that narrowly taper to the base, 12 or fewer stamens each with two narrow appendages parallel to the anthers, and with an oval to conical fruit measuring more than 8 mm long. This site lies just off the Grand Canyon south rim at Desert View Point along a trail down into the canyon, Coconino County, Arizona.

By late summer, kochia becomes a tall broad tumbleweed often interconnecting with adjacent kochia plants. Long conspicuous hairs covering much of the plant and radially symmetric flowers distinguish Kochia from close relatives in the Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae). This site lies near Graf Street, along the trail that follows Spring Creek, south Bozeman, Gallatin County, Montana.

The most common and abundant gentian species in the Teton area from open parkland in montane forests to subalpine and alpine rocky slopes. The deep blue corolla with conspicuous folds (plaits) between lobes and solitary flowers terminating flowering stems are diagnostic of this species. This site is south of Marion Lake and lies along the Game Creek trail as it crests upon the benches on the south side of Housetop Mountain in the Teton Range.

Although in the sagebrush steppe, this paintbrush species seems to be a bit more common on the slopes associated with the draws in this area. This site lies in the Wyoming Big sagebrush steppe north of Fourchette Bay and west of Reynolds Road in the Box Elder Creek drainage.

Ellisia was observed only on prairie dog towns in this region of the CMR Refuge and vicinity. It is a summer flowering annual that prefers disturbed sites such as those at the margins of prairie dog towns (e.g., former colony sites). This site lies at the periphery of a prairie dog town along Box Elder Creek, which is surrounded by Wyoming big sagebrush steppe. This area is north of Fourchette Bay and west of Reynolds Road.

Euphorbia spathulata is particularly common in disturbed settings around prairie dog towns (this was the case following a dry fall and winter). This Euphorbia species was absent from the adjacent Wyoming big sagebrush steppe. This site lies along the periphery of the large prairie dog town in the Box Elder drainage, just to the north of Fourchette Bay and west of Reynolds Road.

Astragalus gilviflorus and Cryptantha caespitosa, two perennial cespitose forbs, are common in the sagebrush steppe south of Thermopolis just past the south end of the Wind River Canyon in the region of the Boysen Reservoir, the sagebrush steppe is not dominated by Bromus tectorum regardless of disturbance history. This is in contrast to the Thermopolis regions at the north end of the Wind River Canyon. At this particular site, Agropyron cristatum (crested wheatgrass) is the dominant bunchgrass. Bouteloua gracilis is also common. Perennial native forbs such as Astragalus and Cryptantha are sporadic.

I don’t think I understand mirabilis linearis. Or I guess I don’t know why I expect consistency from a species any more. Anyways, awesome plant. Walt Fertig did it first. I guess at least this time it was his home turf :)

The geographically confined Erigeron is sporadic in sagebrush steppe dominated by Artemisia nova (black sagebrush), especially on the rockiest sites. This site is on limestone substrate in the Horseshoe Bend area of the Pryor Mountain region, northeast of Lovell Wyoming.

Hiding in plain sight this entire time, described by Blake Wellard and Jason Baker in 2018, 9 answer tubes and 9 ligules per flower head. Leaves and stems covered in scales and trichomes, tastes terrible. Covered in native pollinators