Favoritos de nrmorin

redtip threadplant, Nemacladus orientalis, California, White Mountains, Antelope Springs, Deep Springs Valley, elevation 1716 m (5630 ft).

This desert annual (the one in focus near center of the image) is widespread and common in and adjacent to the warm deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, on dry soils below about 2400 meters (7900 meters) elevation. Like most desert species of Nemacladus, it only germinates and flowers in unusually wet years.

After looking more closely it turned out that most of the background in this image is actually a second species of Nemacladus (now identified here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/94772378). It is a recently recognized and soon-to-be named species endemic to the south end of the White Mountains, and the two species are often found together. Among other differences, the unnamed species has gently sigmoid (S-shaped) flower stalks, and flower lobes with brownish-orange edges. Nemacladus orientalis has straight flower stalks and flower lobes with purplish-red tips.

Also visible is a flower of yellowthroats (Phacelia fremontii).

Uploaded from my Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/127605180@N04/