snowmelt

Showing 25–36 of 38 results

  • Phlox hoodii / spiny phlox

    • half-inch, five (or four) petaled flower with yellow center
    • low to ground, mat forming, moss-like
    • tightly packed, narrow, spiny leaves
    • blooms in very early spring, just after snowmelt
    • with sagebrush on dry, rocky soils

  • Phlox longifolia / longleaf phlox

    • white or pink to almost rose flowers
    • blooms in spring, sometimes through to August
    • common on disturbed and undisturbed sites

  • Physaria spp / twinpods

    • yet another very small yellow crucifer/brassica
    • densely hairy leaves, tapering to a petiole
    • bloom in early spring on minimal soil in rocky places
    • fruit characteristics TBPL

  • Picea engelmannii / Engelmann spruce

    • common, especially in mixed conifer forests
    • canopy a narrow spire in young trees, cylindrical in older trees
    • sharp, pointy needles, generally "swept" toward branch tips
    • needles attached to twigs with woody pegs (sterigmata)
    • pendant cones less than 2.5 inches long; thin scales, wavy margins

  • Picea pungens / Colorado blue spruce

    • conical, layered crown; whorled branches
    • frequent epicormic branches; "woolly" look
    • stout, yellow-brown twigs with sterigmata (woody pegs)
    • cones greater than 2.5" long
    • cone scales stiff at base, diamond shaped, not wavy at tips
    • in mixed conifer forests

  • Pinus contorta / lodgepole pine

    • evergreen conifer
    • needles in groups (fascicles) of 2
    • lopsided cones, (mostly) remain on tree when mature
    • rounded crown; orangey-brown scaly bark

  • Pinus flexilis / limber pine

    • high elevation, rocky or talus, dry, high-stress habitat
    • often - stunted and deformed by wind
    • highly flexible branches
    • needles in bundles (fascicles) of 5
    • often - semi-rotted cones on ground below

  • Primula parryi / Parry’s primrose

    • striking, bright magenta (or pink) flowers with yellow centers, 5 petals
    • 3 to 30 flowers per stalk
    • brilliant green foliage as a rosette
    • foliage releases horrible smell with the slightest touch
    • typically at higher altitudes in wet places

  • Pseudotsuga menziesii / Douglas fir

    • persistent cones with distinctive 3-pronged, "mouse tail", bracts
    • semi-pointy, but not stiff or sharp, single needles
    • needles attached to twigs by petioles (no pegs)
    • oval leaf scars
    • twig buds are pointy, "lustrous" brown

  • Purshia tridentata / antelope bitterbrush

    • small yellow, 5-petal flowers in early spring
    • small shrub, often in large "clumps"
    • leaves look like sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata)

  • Ranunculus adoneus / alpine buttercup

    • short, high altitude plant
    • rocks or moist meadows
    • yellow "buttercuppy" flowers, 5-10 petals
    • huge numbers of stigmas
    • highly lobed, finely dissected leaves

  • Ranunculus glaberrimus / sagebrush buttercup

    • one of the earliest spring flowers
    • yellow flowers, ca. 1" across
    • usually 5 shiny/waxy petals, numerous stamens
    • short, mostly elliptical leaves
    • in small to field-sized clumps
    • very poisonous

Showing 25–36 of 38 results