Tom Schweich  

2018

March, 2018

Note on Smooth Brome One of the most common non-native species found at nearly every site was smooth brome (Bromopsis (Bromus) inermis). Smooth brome is not on the noxious weed list, yet it appears to be one of the largest threats to ecosystems, besides development, in Jefferson County, particularly in wetlands. Smooth brome is very difficult to treat without causing problems to the surrounding environment. Unfortunately, the spread of smooth brome is being encouraged by weed treatment activities especially in wetlands. Canada thistle is very common in wetlands, and is a B-List noxious weed. It is often treated with herbicides that impact dicots. Smooth brome is a monocot. A recent report by Rondeau (2011) found in a six year monitoring effort for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense, also Breea arvensis) that although the treatments were successful in removing the Canada thistle it was replaced by smooth brome in wetlands where smooth brome was already in the area. In addition, they found the local native plants including woody species were being impacted as well over the six year study. Overall the result was a less desirable outcome than the situation being remedied from an ecological perspective. This is unfortunate because Canada thistle is a B-Listed plant; people are being required to treat it. If smooth brome is in the vicinity (which is often the case) a state listed noxious weed is being replaced by something that is even more difficult to control and arguably more damaging to the ecosystem. In the State of Colorado, smooth brome is available for use in seed mixes used by ranchers, homeowners and highway departments which is why it is not listed as an invasive species. This plant is considered to be an invasive species in at least ten other states (MN, OH, IN, IL, KY, TN, NB, WI, ND and MS), by Ivasives.org and The Nature Conservancy.

Sunday, March 11th

Missouri Foxtail Cactus beside the trail.	Bractless Blazing Star (Mentzelia nuda) with last year's fruit.

Wednesday, March 14th

Friday, March 23rd

Saturday, March 24th

Sunday, March 25th

Monday, March 26th

The float of the Virgin in the streets of Triana. The thing to see here is the float will “jump” when it is picked up by the costaleros.

Tuesday, March 27th

Dolmen de Matarrubilla

The Matarrubilla Dolmen was discovered in 1917, also as a result of some agricultural tasks. It is just one kilometer in a straight line from La Pastora,

As a funerary corridor and circular chamber structure with a total length of 32 meters, Matarrubilla approaches La Pastora in grandeur. It differs fundamentally because in the chamber is a great block of black marble, carved and with a recess of several centimeters on the upperpart, that probably fulfilled functions of table of offerings or altar. Undoubtedly it is a ritual element that already had great importance in the design and planning of the monument, since its placement, occupying much of the space of the chamber, must have occurred before the erection of the roof in a false dome.

The funeral deposit found in Matarrubilla was quite scarce. In the plundered chamber were scrambled and fragmented remains of pottery and some human bones. In the corridor, some materials were in situ, including stone tools, a large number of fragments of gold lamellae, some ivory objects (including an elephant tusk in the rough, unworked) and several thousands of necklace beads. Only one complete skeleton was found, halfway down the corridor and in a cramped position. The relatively low number of burials and grave goods and the presence of the altar or offering table that so clearly dominates the space available in the vaulted chamber of the monument suggests that, indeed, a monument such as Matarrubilla may have played the role of a temple or ceremonial enclosure besides (or perhaps more than) a sepulcher ( https://www.rutasconhistoria.es/loc/dolmen-de-matarrubilla ).

Dolmen de la Pastora

Inside the Dolmen de Pastora	Interior of the chamber of the Dolmen de Pastora.	Interpretive panel at Dolmen de Pastora.

More information about Dolmen de la Pastora is available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmen_de_la_Pastora .

Italica

Wednesday, March 28th

Thursday, March 29th

Friday, March 30th

Saturday, March 31st

April, 2018

Sunday, April 1st

Monday, April 2nd

Tuesday, April 3rd

Wednesday, April 4th

Thursday, April 5th

Friday, April 6th

Wednesday, April 11th

Field identification: Juniperus sp., probably a horticultural species.

Juniperus virginiana L. Eastern Redcedar.

North Washington Open Space, Jefferson County, Colorado. On a cut bank near the north boundary fence of the North Washington Open Space, 1.8 km northwest of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7689°N, 105.2334°W. WGS 1984 Single plant about 2 m. tall. Probable garden escapee.

Tall narrow shrub, to 2 m.; Leaves in 2s, scale-like, margin entire, tip acute, overlapping > ¼ length of next leaf, length of gland < distance to apex; Seed, #1, 4 mm. × 3 mm.

Field identification: Lamium amplexicaule. Turkish Mint.

Lamium amplexicaule L. Henbit.

North Washington Open Space, Jefferson County, Colorado. Small (4 acre) fallow city-owned parcel in northern Golden, near the intersection of Colorado Highway 93 and Washington Avenue, 1.75 km. northwest of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7688°N, 105.2317°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1797 m.. Small group of plants in the area that has previously mowed by neighbors, northeast corner of parcel.

Field identification:Carex inops var. heliophila. Sun Sedge.

Carex inops L.H. Bailey ssp. heliophila (Mack.) Crins. Sun Sedge.

North Table Mountain, Jefferson County, Colorado. Southwest corner of North Table Mountain, exposed sites on lower slopes, near City of Golden North Table Mountain trail, 1.23 km. north of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7665°N, 105.2192°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1818 m..

Thursday, April 12th

Field identification: Chorispora tenella

Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. Crossflower.

Kinney Run, Jefferson County, Colorado. Between Kinney Run Trail and the creek, just north of Tripp Ranch, 3.36 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7259°N, 105.2137°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1889 m.

Field identification: Euphorbia myrsinites

Habitat of Coll. No. 1779, Euphorbia myrsinites in Kinney Run.

Kinney Run, Jefferson County, Colorado. West-facing slope, just beginning to bloom, collection from southern edge of an infestation that extends 175 m. north along the rock outcrop. 3.31 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7264°N, 105.2133°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1851 m.

Field identification: Viola nuttallii

Kinney Run in early Spring.	Kinney Run in early Spring.

Kinney Run, Jefferson County, Colorado. 40 m. east of, and above the Kinney Run Trail, in the sandstone of a hogback, at the base of Cercocarpus montanus, which itself was rooted in a fracture of the bedrock, 3.22 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7272°N, 105.2134°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1845 m.

Field identification: Cerastium arvense.

Cerastium arvense L. ssp. strictum Gaudin. Field Chickweed.

Kinney Run, Jefferson County, Colorado. 40 m. east of and above the Kinney Run Trail, in the sandstone of a hogback, at the base of Cercocarpus montanus, which itself was rooted in a fracture of the bedrock, 3.22 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7272°N, 105.2134°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1845 m.

Field identification: Taraxacum officinale.

Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg. Common Dandelion.

Kinney Run, Jefferson County, Colorado. Thirty meters east of and above the Kinney Run Trail, in thin soil near bare rock outcrops of a small hogback, 3.16 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7276°N, 105.2136°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1839 m.

Field identification: Berberis repens

Berberis repens Lindl. Creeping Barberry.

Kinney Run, Jefferson County, Colorado. Thirty-eight meters east of and above the Kinney Run Trail, west side of the hogback in a small cove or old excavation that collects water, 3.12 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.728°N, 105.2137°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1835 m.

Field identification: unknown, possibly Boraginaceae Lithospermum arvense.

View of Kinney Run in early Spring.

Also seen: Lomatium orientale, Alyssum simplex, Erodium cicutarium, Claytonia rosea, Zigadenus paniculatus. Three raptors seen today. This is the first of three.

General view north on Kinney Run.

Monday, April 16th

Field identification: Carex inops var. heliophila. In rocks with some openings and bare ground, Berberis repens.

Carex inops L.H. Bailey ssp. heliophila (Mack.) Crins. Sun Sedge.

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Upper part of Cottonwood Canyon, a relatively large canyon draining North Table Mountain to the southeast, on top of small rise along an old social trail that predates Open Space trail construction, 3.07 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7799°N, 105.2043°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1896 m. With Berberis repens. Early anthesis at this slightly higher elevation, pistillate spikelets just beginning to develop.

Tops of rocky ledges above Cottonwood Canyon: a lot of Pediocactus simpsonii and a good number of Carex inops var. simpsonii. Small (10-12) herd of deer in the upper reaches of Cottonwood Canyon, away from the trail.

Concentration of Pediocactus simpsonii

Stream draining the small reservoir, and feeding Cottonwood Canyon.

A second group of deer on top of North Table Mountain.

Wednesday, April 18th.

Field identification: Muscari botryoides

Muscari botryoides (L.) Mill. Common Grape Hyacinth.

Heritage Square, Jefferson County, Colorado. Heritage Dells area, 35 m. east of the Kinney Run Trail, in thin soil on top of a very low hogback, 4.3 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden 39.7177°N, 105.2111°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1872 m. Well naturalized in a small thriving colony. Most leaves have been at least partially eaten.

Field identification: Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum

Cerastium arvense L. ssp. strictum Gaudin. Field Chickweed.

Heritage Square, Jefferson County, Colorado. Heritage Dells area, 41 m. east of the Kinney Run Trail, in thin soil on top of a very low hogback, 4.3 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden 39.7177°N, 105.211°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1887 m.

Field identification: Carex inops var. heliophila

Carex inops L.H. Bailey ssp. heliophila (Mack.) Crins. Sun Sedge.

Heritage Square, Jefferson County, Colorado. Heritage Dells area, 47 m. east of the Kinney Run Trail, in thin soil on top of a very low hogback, 4.34 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden 39.7172°N, 105.211°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1898 m.

Delphinium nuttallianum Pritz. Twolobe Larkspur.

Heritage Square, Jefferson County, Colorado. Heritage Dells area, 47 m. east of the Kinney Run Trail, in thin soil on top of a very low hogback, 4.34 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden 39.7172°N, 105.211°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1898 m. Dark blue-purple larkspur. Only four plants, therefore only one flower and one leaf collected.

Pinus ponderosa, Rhus aromatica trilobata, Lomatium orientale, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia ludoviciana, Brickellia californica, Centauria diffusa, Ericameria nauseosa graveolens, Taraxacum officinale, Verbascum thapsus, Cynoglossum officinale, Alyssum simplex, Cerastium arvense strictum, Sedum lanceolatum, Penstemon virens, Potentilla sp., Ribes cereum, Commandra umbellata, Viola nuttallii, Yucca glauca, Leucocrinum montanum,

Burgess Avenue.	Small Missouri Foxtail Cactus

Thursday, April 19th

Matthews/Winters Open Space.

Field identification: Lithospermum arvense

Lithospermum arvense L. Corn Gromwell.

Matthews/Winters Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Beside the Village Walk Trail, near the Mount Vernon Cemetery, 7.25 km. south of the GNIS location of Golden 39.6909°N, 105.2085°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1948 m. Duplicates Judy King collection 4 May 2009, KHD47888. Also collected in Kinney Run, Golden, my Coll. Nos. 1783 and 1827.

Monday, April 23rd

Colorado School of Mines Survey Field.

Beetle seen in the Survey Field

Field identification: Collinsia parviflora “Blue-Eyed Mary”

Collinsia parviflora Lindl. Maiden Blue-eyed Mary.

Colorado School of Mines Survey Field, Jefferson County, Colorado. North-facing slope of small gulch, 1.97 km. south southwest of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7383°N, 105.2267°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1846 m.

Field identification: Erodium cicutarium

Erodium cicutarium (L.) L'Her. ex Aiton. Redstem Stork's Bill.

Colorado School of Mines Survey Field, Jefferson County, Colorado. South side of an alluvial hill near the center of the Survey Field, 2.22 km, south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7357°N, 105.2245°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1843 m.

Field identification: Nothocalais cuspidata

Nothocalais cuspidata (Pursh) Greene. Prairie False Dandelion.

Colorado School of Mines Survey Field, Jefferson County, Colorado. Distributed broadly across upper surface of small alluvial hill, near the center of the Survey Field, 2.22 km, south of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7359°N, 105.2245°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1851 m.

Field identification: Delphinium nuttallii

Thursday, April 26th

Ranson/Edwards Homestead Open Space.

Cloudy, cool, breezy, with a few rain drops.

Field identification: Anemone patens

Anemone patens L. var. multifida Pritzel. Eastern Pasqueflower.

Ranson/Edwards Homestead Open Space Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Highest Great Plains at base of the Rocky Mountain Front Range, just above Rocky Flats, 1.7 mi. west on Colorado Highway 73 from Colorado Highway 93, then 2.0 mi. generally north on Plainview Road. 39.898°N, 105.2704°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1943 m.

Friday, April 27th

Clear Creek Canyon Park

Field identification: Leucocrinum montanum

Leucocrinum montanum Nutt. ex A. Gray. Star Lily.

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Southeast-facing hillslope just inside the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, foothills of Rocky Mountain Front Range, 2.3 km west of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7528°N, 105.2476°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1816 m.

Field identification: Euphorbia esula

Euphorbia esula L. Leafy Spurge.

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Colonizing a former quarry road, southeast-facing side of the canyon, just inside the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, foothills of Rocky Mountain Front Range, 2.16 km west of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7532°N, 105.2461°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1794 m.

Field identification: Physaria vitulifera

Physaria vitulifera Rydb. Roundtip Twinpod.

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Growing on the bank of a former quarry road, southeast-facing side of the canyon, just inside the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon, foothills of Rocky Mountain Front Range, 2.16 km west of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7535°N, 105.2459°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1801 m.

Clear Creek Canyon Park.

Stuck?	Car wreck.	Mazes constructed on the floor of the quarry.	Fault plane exposed by quarry.	Fault plane exposed by quarry.

Mayhem Gulch Parking Lot and Trailhead.

Centennial Cone West Trailhead.

Centennial Cone, as seen from the West Trailhead.

Saddle between Horse Creek and Elk Creek drainage.

Road changes direction, view of upper Elk Creek drainage.

Douglas Mountain above the road.

North Trailhead of Centennial Cone Park.

Travois Trail headed southeast from the North Trailhead

White Ranch Park, West Trailhead.

Early Spring view to the north.	Denver through the haze.	Ralston Buttes from West Trailhead.	North and South Table Mountains from White Ranch Park.

Saturday, April 28th

North Washington Open Space.

Field identification: Carex inops ssp. heliophila.

Carex inops L.H. Bailey ssp. heliophila (Mack.) Crins. Sun Sedge.

North Washington Open Space, Jefferson County, Colorado. Scattered across the top and southwest slope of the hill with somewhat intact mixed-grass prairie, 1.76 km. northwest of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7685°N, 105.2331°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1817 m. Three collections of the Sun Sedge bearing the suffixes .0, .1, and .2 were made this day relatively near to each other.

May, 2018

Sunday, May 6th

North Washington Open Space.

Field identification: Celtis reticulata, in bloom.

Celtis reticulata Torr. Net-Leaved Hackberry.

North Washington Open Space, Jefferson County, Colorado. Small (4 acre) fallow city-owned parcel in northern Golden, near the intersection of Colorado Highway 93 and Washington Avenue, 1.75 km. northwest of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7684°N, 105.2326°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1794 m. Two trees, three short branches taken from each. Just off the top of the hill to the south.

Monday, May 7th

Field identification: Celtis reticulata.

Coll. No. 1799, Celtis reticulata	Coll. No. 1799, Celtis reticulata

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Lower east slopes of North Table Mountain, along the upper portion of the Lithic Trail and nearby portions of the North Table Loop, 3.77 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden 39.7812°N, 105.1926°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 5826 ft. Several small trees scattered on the hillslope.

Field identification: Amelanchier alnifolia

Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. Saskatoon Serviceberry.

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. A few small shrubs on slopes of northeast aspect, lower east slopes of North Table Mountain, 3.83 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7833°N, 105.1946°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1796 m.

Coll. No. 1800-1801, 7 May 2018, characters oberved: Shrub, to 1 m.; Stems, branches unarmed; Leaves, simple, petiole, 8 mm., blade, 22-32 mm. × 19-32 mm. wide, veins, pinnate, surface, sparsely hairy above, sparsely to moderately hairy below, margin, serrate; Flowers, borne singly, pedicels, 10 mm., petals 9 mm. × 4.5 mm. wide, color cream; Ovary, inferior, tip hairy; Styles, #(4)5;

Field identification: Amelanchier alnifolia

Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. Saskatoon Serviceberry.

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Slopes of northeast aspect, lower east slopes of North Table Mountain, 4.00 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7854°N, 105.1948°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1841 m. Beside North Table Loop, numerous small shrubs.

Coll. No. 1800-1801, 7 May 2018, characters oberved: Shrub, to 1 m.; Stems, branches unarmed; Leaves, simple, petiole, 8 mm., blade, 22-32 mm. × 19-32 mm. wide, veins, pinnate, surface, sparsely hairy above, sparsely to moderately hairy below, margin, serrate; Flowers, borne singly, pedicels, 10 mm., petals 9 mm. × 4.5 mm. wide, color cream; Ovary, inferior, tip hairy; Styles, #(4)5;

Field identification: Corylus cornuta, leaves just beginning, no reproductive parts.

Corylus cornuta Marshall. Beaked Hazelnut.

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Lower northeast slopes of North Table Mountain, adjacent to North Table Loop, which has the appearance of once having been a road at this location, 4.55 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden. 39.7922°N, 105.1974°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1830 m. Tree, just beginning to leaf out, no reproductive structures. Determination tentative.

Field identification: Medicago lupulina

Coll. No. 1803, Medicago lupulina	Coll. No. 1803, Medicago lupulina

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Eastern slope of North Table Mountain, just below the rim of the mesa, beside the Mesa Top Trail which is a former road, 3.83 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden 39.7848°N, 105.1974°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1830 m. Small yellow flowers on Mesa Top Trail.

Coll. No. 1803, 7 May 2018, characters observed: Annual herb, prostrate, to 1 cm. × 50 cm. wide; Leaves, compound, stipules, leaf-like, 6.5 mm., petioles, 11 mm., leaflets, #3, obovate, 5 mm. × 5-6 mm. wide, margin denticulate, middle leaflet extended beyond lateral leaflet on a petiolule; Inflorescence, compact axillary raceme, 8 mm. × 3.5 mm. wide; Sepals, 1 mm.; Flowers, 2 mm., color yellow; Fruit, unknown -- should be curved.

Field identification: Juncus interior, immature, determination tentative.

Field identification: Poa sp., at first tower.

Coll. No. 1805, 8 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial grass, to 22 cm., clumped; Roots, fibrous; Stem, herbaceous; Leaves, sheath, 40-80 mm., open; ligule, membranous, 1.5 mm., auricles, absent; blade, 40 mm, revolute, margins, scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, contracted panicle, 80 mm. × 14 mm. wide, 4± branches; Rachis, not extended, sparsely scabrous; Spikelets, many, 7 mm. × 1.3 mm. wide, similar, borne singly, stalked, pedicels 1-2 mm., 2-many flowered; Compression, lateral; Disarticulation, above the glumes; Glumes, lower, 2.6 mm., veins, #3, upper, 2.7 mm., <lowest floret, veins, #3, keeled, membranous, awns, #0; Florets, 4 per spikelet, all staminate, no pistillate or bisexual florets found; Lemma, 4.5 mm., >glumes, ovate, membranous, hairy proximally to short hairy distally, none cobwebby, color, green-purple, veins, #5, obscure, tip, obtuse; Palea, 3.7 mm., <lemma, membranous, veins, green, ciliate, margin, glabrous, tip, entire; Anthers, 1.7 mm.

Field identification: Carex sp., settled on C. praegracilis, but I'm not so sure about this one.

` Coll. No. 1806, 8 May 2018. characters observed: Perennial sedge, Habit: rhizomatous; Culms: to 45 mm., scabrous below head; Leaves: 2.2 mm. wide, green, sheaths, white-hyaline, smooth; Inflorescence: 27 mm. × 8 mm. wide, #8-10 spikes, loosely clustered; Spikes: identical appearing, terminal androgynous, lateral androgynous, proximal pistillate, 8 mm. × 5 mm. wide; Bracts: proximal, 24 mm., <inflorescence, setaceous (bristle-like); Pistillate scales: 4 mm. × 2 mm. wide, green mid-vein, brown laterally, hyaline margin, one scale margin just barely folded over edge of perigynum; Perigynia: #15-16 per spike, 3.8 mm. × 1.6 mm. wide, wingless, obscurely veined, glabrous, beak, 0.8 mm., flattish, ±sloping to tip, serrulate, achene to beak tip 1.6 mm.; Achene: 2.1 mm. × 1.3 mm. wide, pretty flat, obovate; Stigma: #2.

Field identification: Poa sp.

Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey. Muttongrass.

North Table Mountain Park, Jefferson County, Colorado. Lowest eastern slopes of North Table Mountain, beside the Lithic Trail about mid-way between the Fairmont Ditch and North Table Loop, 3.80 km. northeast of the GNIS location of Golden, 39.7818°N, 105.1927°W. WGS 1984 Elev. 1777 m. "Reddish stems," actually reddish proximal sheaths, attracted me from trailside.

Coll. No. 1807, 7 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial grass, 50-60 cm., clumped, not rhizomatous; Roots, fibrous; Stems, herbaceous; Internodes, hollow, glabrous; Leaves, blade and sheath differentiated; Sheath, 120 mm., open at least ½, minutely scabrous, reddish color proximally; Ligule, membraneous, 2 mm., auricles absent; Blade, 25 mm., scabrous, margin scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, > leaves, panicle, 110 mm. × 20 mm. wide, spikelets many; Rachis, sparsely scabrous on all sides, not extended beyond upper spikelet; Spikelets, many, similar, borne singly, one per node, stalked, 6 mm.; Compression, lateral; Disarticulation, above the glumes; Glumes, lower 3.7 mm., upper 4.3 mm., veins 3(5); Florets, 5-6 per spikelet, pistillate; Axis, hairy, extended beyond upper floret; Lemma, 5 mm., > glumes, membraneous, keeled, keel and margin are villous proximally, hairs to 0.7 mm., veins definitely ≥3, maybe 5, parallel, tip entire, obtuse; Palea, 2.5 mm., <lemma, proximally villous, keels ciliate, margin glabrous; Stamens, none found; Ovary, glabrous, yellow-brown; Stigma, feathery;

Thursday, May 10th

Field identification: Lepidium perfoliatum.

Coll. No. 1808, Lepidium perfoliatum

Field identification: Leucocrinum montanum

Field identification: Astragalus agrestis.

Field identification: Packera plattensis

Coll. No. 1811, 10 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, herb, to 40 cm., sap clear, caudex button-like; Stem, multicellular arachnose throughout; Leaves, basal and cauline, alternate, basal, petiole, 70 mm., blade, 75 mm. × 12 mm. wide, sparsely arachnose, margin wavy and revolute in places, reduced above, cauline, sessile, blade 85 mm. × 10 mm. wide, reduced above, margin wavy and revolute in part; Inflorescence, corymbiform, heads #8-10 per stem, somewhat convex, >leaves; Pedicels, 5-20 mm., subtended by a bract to 6 mm., lanceolate; Involucre, 7 mm. × 10 mm wide, bowl-shaped, ±glabrous; Phyllaries, ±equal, in 1 series, 7 mm. × 1.8 mm. wide, green, eglandular, margins ±flat, not clasping ray ovaries, tips acuminate with terminal tuft of hairs; Receptacle, epaleate; Ray flowers, #8-10, tube 4 mm. + blade 5 mm. × 2.5 mm. wide, yellow, fertile; Disk flowers, many, tube 4.5 mm. + lobes 1 mm., yellow; Pappus, many, well-developed, bristles, ±equal; Cypsela, 1.3 mm., brown.

Field identification: Boechera fendleri, determination tentative.

Coll. No. 1812, 10 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial (short-lived?), terrestrial, herb, tap-rooted, to 50 cm., branched hairs proximally, glabrous distally; Leaves, basal, petiole 9 mm. + blade 19 mm. × 5.5 mm. wide, oblanceolate, entire, hairs 3-4 branches, cauline sessile, spear-shaped, 21 mm. × 4 mm. wide, auriculate, 1.0-1.5 mm.; Inflorescence, raceme, 125 mm.; Sepals, #4, 4 mm., ovate; Petals, #4, 6 mm., entire, lavender; Stamens, #6; Filaments, 3 mm., narrowly winged; Anthers, 1.5 mm.; Fruit, pedicels, 10 mm., glabrous, 50 mm. × 0.8-1.0 mm. wide, recurved; Ovules, many, biseriate.

Keys easily to B. fendleri in Weber & Wittmann (2012) and Harrington (2nd ed., 1964). Gets lost in Ackerfield (2015, p. 226) at couplet 9, and in FNANM Group 4 at couplet 25, both over the question of whether there are simple trichomes in addition to rayed trichomes on basal leaves and proximal stem. There are only a very few simple trichomes and those are on leaf margins.

Field identification: Viola nuttallii

Field identification: Delphinium nuttallii

Field identification: Phlox, maybe P. multiflora.

Oh geez … I can't get this thing into anything but Poa fendleriana but it is full of bisexual florets. Compare it to my Coll. No. 1807.

Coll. No. 1815, 10 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial grass, to 50 cm., clumped, not rhizomatous; Stem, herbaceous; Leaves, mostly basal, blade and sheath differentiated; (Cauline) Sheath, 55 mm., open at least ½, minutely scabrous; Ligule, membraneous, 1 mm.; Auricles, 0; (Cauline) Blade, 15-25 mm., rolled, margins minutely scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, contracted panicle, 85 mm. × 15 mm. wide, spikelets many; Rachis, not extended beyond the upper spikelet; Spikelets, many, similar, borne singly, stalked, narrowly rounded at base, 2-many flowered, 6.5 mm. × 3 mm. wide; Compression, lateral; Disarticulation, unknown; Glumes, lower 3 mm., upper 3.5 mm., keeled, membraneous, awns 0; Florets, 5 per spikelet, bisexual; Rachilla, glabrous, extended beyond upper floret; Lemma, 3 mm., ovate, membraneous, keeled, sparsely villous on proximal keel and margin, veins, ≥3(5), tip entire, obtuse, awns, 0; Palea, 2.9 mm., <lemma, membraneous, keel ciliate; Anthers, 1.5-1.7 mm.; Ovary, glabrous; Stigma, feathery.

Becomes lost in keys requiring that all florets be pistillate, e.g., Shaw (2008) and Ackerfield (2015). Keys easily to Poa fendleriana in keys that do not mention that florets are unisexual or that plant is dioecious, e.g., Hitchcock (2ed, Chase, 1950), Harrington (2ed, 1964), Welsh, et al. (1993), Baldwin (2012), and Weber & Wittman (2012).

Field identification: Carex inops var. heliophila.

Inflorescence of Coll. No. 1816, Carex inops var. heliophila

Saturday, May 12th

Field identification: Packera, Keyed out while fresh in the office to P. plattensis.

Coll. No. 1817, 12 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb, 14 cm., from taprooted caudix, sap not milky; Stem, light green, tomentose, densely so in axils; Leaves, mostly basal and few cauline, alternate, petiole 8 mm., blade 10 mm. × 5 mm. wide, oblanceolate, surface, upper thinly tomentose, lower moderately tomentose, especially the mid-vein, margin, crenulate; Inflorescence, head enclosed by involucre, showy; Heads, #10, pedicels, 12 mm.; Involucre, 7 mm. × 5-6 mm. wide, thinly tomentose; Phyllaries, equal, in 1 series, 5 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, green, flat; Receptacle, epaleate; Flowers, of 2 kinds; Ray flowers, #10, tube 3 mm. + blade 7 mm., yellow, fertile; Disc flowers, many, tube 4 mm. + lobes 0.5 mm., yellow; Pappus, many, well-developed, bristles, 4 mm., ±equal, Style, 2-branched; Fruit, 1 mm., green, beak-less, glabrous.

Sunday, May 13th

Wednesday, May 16

Field identification: Barbarea vulgaris

Coll. No. 1818, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Probably a biennial or perennial, to 40 cm., terrestrial but growing in flowing water, glabrous throughout; Leaves, lower cauline, 150 mm. × 45 mm. wide, pinnafitid, lyrate, lobes, #9, terminal lobe 47 mm. × 40 mm. wide, auriculate, auricles, glabrous, leaves reduced upward, upper cauline, sessile, 35 mm. × 18 mm. wide, lobes, 3; Inflorescence, not bracted; Flowers, radial; Sepals, 2.5 mm. × 1.8 mm. wide, ovate, rows, #1, color, yellow; Petals, 6 mm., obovate, claw not conspicuously differentiated from blade, margin, entire, color, yellow; Stamens, #6; Filaments, 4 mm., plain; Anthers, 1 mm.; Fruit, pedicels, 5 mm., glabrous, mature, 19.5 mm. × 0.5 mm. wide, spreading, glabrous.

Field identification: Prunus americana.

Coll. No. 1819, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Spreading woody shrub, to 2 m., blooming before leafing out; Stem, unarmed, glabrous, peeling to brown; Leaves, (immature, at time of flowering), simple, 15 mm. × 5.5 mm. wide, elliptic-rhomboid, bases ±equal, pinnately veined, margin serrate, teeth eglandular, few hairs on petioles and leaf base margin; Flowers in small groups of 2-3, Pedicels, 9-18 mm.; Hypanthium, 2 mm.; Sepals, 2.8 mm., reflexed, few cobwebby hairs adaxially; Petals, free, 5.5 mm. × 2.5 mm. wide, white; Stamens, many (30?); Style, #1, 10 mm.

Field identification: Thlaspi arvense.

Coll. No. 1820, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Annual terrestrial herb, to 50 cm.; Hairs, 0; Roots, tap-rooted; Leaves, cauline, 30 mm. × 9 mm. wide, sessile, basally lobed, sparsely dentate; Inflorescence, raceme; Flowers, radial; Sepals, 1 row, 2 mm. × 1 mm. wide, ovate; Petals, 3.5 mm. × 1 mm. wide, spoon-shaped, margin entire, color white; Stamens, 2 mm.; Anthers, 0.5 mm.; Fruit, pedicels, 15 mm., glabrous, silicle, 10 mm. × 8 mm. wide, spreading; Seeds, many.

Field identification: At first I thought this might be Camelina microcarpa, but now I'm not so sure. It needs a good keying out.

Overview of Coll. No. 1821, Draba nemorosa

Coll. No. 1821, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Annual terrestrial herb, 11 to 25 cm., hairs vary: none, simple, forked, but not dolabriform; Stem, proximal, hairs simple and forked, distal, glabrous; Leaves, basal and cauline, Basal, simple, 12 mm. × 4.5 mm. wide, hairs forked; Cauline, #5-6, sessile, 11 mm. × 4 mm. wide, sparsely dentate, hairs, simple and forked; Inflorescene, raceme; Sepals, rows, #1, 1.3 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, ovate, color, green turning yellow, abaxial hairs wavy; Petals, 2 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, spoon-shaped, margin entire, color, yellow; Stamens, #4 or 6, 1.3 mm.; Anthers, 0.3 mm.; Style, very short; Fruit, pedicels, 20 mm., puberulent, body, 7 mm. × 2 mm. wide, ascending, short straight appressed hairs.

Field identification: Ribes aureum

Field identification: Zigadenus paniculatus gramineus

Field identification: Scutellaria brittonii

Field identification: Astragalus sp.

Coll. No. 1826, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb, to 10 cm., acaulescent; Leaves, compound, petiole, 50 mm., blade, 90 mm. × 37 mm. wide, leaflets, #13, 17 mm. × 10 mm. wide, terminal leaflet not a tendril, petiole, rachis, and leaflets with appressed stiff straight hairs; Inflorescence, not an umbel; Calyx, tube 6 mm. + lobes 4 mm., hairs similar; Flower, zygomorphic, banner 22 mm., wings 18 mm., clawed, keel, 22 mm., tip obtuse; Fruit, 35 mm. × 10 mm. wide, falcate, appressed stiff basifixed straight hairs.

Field identification: Lithospermum arvense.

--- Match with 1783.

Coll. No. 1827, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Annual, to 30 cm., hairs appressed with pustular bases; Stem, some branched distally; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal, petiole 5 mm. + blade 13 mm. × 3.5 mm. wide, slightly obovate, margin entire, hairs as above, withering, cauline, alternate, sessile, 19 mm. × 3.7 mm. wide, margin entire, hairs as above; Calyx, lobes, 5.2 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, enlarged in fruit to 7 mm., hairs as above; Corolla, tube 4 mm. + throat 1 mm. + lobes 1.5 mm., blue to white, abaxial spreading hairy; Stamens, attached in tube; Style, 1.2 mm., Nutlets, #(1-2) 3 (4), 2.8 mm. × 2 mm. wide, green - tan, tuberculed.

Field identification: Cynoglossum officinale.

Field identification: Physaria vitulifera. Coll. Nos. 1828.1 and 1828.2 subsumed here.

View of knob where some Physaria vitulifera grow.

Coll. No. 1828, 16 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial terrestrial herb, to 15 cm., stellate hairy throughout; Roots, tap; Stem, scapose, hairs as above; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal, simple, petiole 15-35 mm. + blade 22-24 mm. × 10-14 mm. wide, few basal leaves with a single pair of teeth, remainder entire, tip barely acuminate, cauline, nearly sessile, 22 mm. × 4.5 mm. wide, margin entire; Inflorescence, raceme, 60-90 mm. × 35 mm, wide; Sepals, #4, rows 1, 7 mm. × 1.5 mm. wide elliptic, green, hairy as above; Petals, 10 mm. × 2 mm. wide, obovate, margin entire, yellow; Stamens, #6 (4 long, 2 short), 6-8 mm.; Filaments, 4.5-6 mm., pair of short filaments slightly winged proximal ½; Anthers, 1.5 mm., saggitate (?); Ovary, 2 mm. × 1.8 mm. wide; Style, 6.4 mm., not elongating in fruit; Fruit, pedicels, 18-20 mm, longest sigmoid, hairs as above, mature fruit, 3 mm. × 4 mm. wide, didymous, apical sinus well-developed, basal sinus much less so, hairy as above.

Will key to P. bellii in Ackerfield (2015) at couplet 17 per the shape of the basal leaves, which are entire to very shallowly once dentate. However, FNANM sends this in the direction of P. vitulifera at couplet 12 based on the relative development of the basal and apical sinuses of the fruit.

On the ridge east of Kinney Run. I was coming down the ridge towards the lime kiln and saw this coyote across the trail. I think I might have flushed it out of a hiding place just south of the lime kiln.

View generally north of Kinney Run.	View generally south of Kinney Run.

Field identification: Erigeron flagellaris.

Thursday, May 17th

Ranson/Edwards

North fence of Ranson/Edwards Homestead OSP	Jog in property line across Coal Creek.

Field identification: Penstemon virens

Field identification: Senecio integerrimus

Field identification: Eleocharis sp.

Field identification: Prunus virginiana.

Field identification: Ribes aureum.

Field identification: Erysimum capitatum

Coll. No. 1835, 17 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial or at least biennial, terrestrial herb, hairs dolabriform throughout; Root, tap; Stem, erect, leafy, hairs as above; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal, simple, petiole, indistinct, ±10 mm., blade 50 mm. × 2.5 mm. wide, narrowly oblanceolate, 1-3 shallowly pinnate dentate, cauline, nearly sessile, 42 mm. × 2.5 mm. wide, ±linear, marginm entire; Inflorescence, raceme 130 mm. × 45 mm. wide, not bracted; Flowers, radial; Sepals, #4, rows, 1, 7 mm. × 1-1.5 mm. wide, narrow and wide pairs opposite; Petals, claw, 10 mm. + blade 6 mm. × 4 mm. wide, spoon-shaped, margin, entire, color, orange; Stamens, #6, 11 & 15 mm., tetradynamous (2 short, 4 long); Anthers, 4.5 mm.; Ovary, 4 mm.; Style, 9 mm.; Stigma, capitate; Pedicels, 5-6 mm., ascending; Fruit, 17 mm. × 1 mm. wide, ascending, hairy as above.

Field identification: Brassicaceae, but likely Arabis pycnocarpa.

Coll. No. 1836, 17 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial terrestrial herb, to 25 cm. tall, hairs simple proximally; Roots, tap; Stem, erect, leafy; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal, simple, petiole 12 mm. + blade 10 mm. × 8 mm. wide, margin entire, ciliate, tip obtuse; cauline, sessile, basally lobed, 22 mm × 6 mm. wide, lanceolate, margin 1-3 dentate; Flowers, radial; Sepals, #4, rows, 1, 2 mm. × 1 mm. wide, ovate, green, glabrous; Petals, 3.7 mm. × 0.9 mm. wide, obovate, margin, entire, color, white; Stamens, #6, 3.5 & 3.8 mm.; Anthers, 0.7 mm., ovate; Ovary, 3 mm.; Stigma, capitate; Fruit, pedicels, 6 mm., fruit, 40 mm. × 1 mm. wide, appressed, glabrous.

Field identification: Lomatium orientale.

Coll. No. 1837, 17 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, to 20 cm., woody taproot; Leaves, compound, pinnate, 75 mm. × 26 mm. wide, ultimate divisions, ≤3 mm., ≤1 mm. wide, villous, tips, obtuse, (with a very small white “spine”); Inflorescence, compound umbel; Involucel Bracts, glabrous; Flowers, white; Anthers, red; Ovary, glabrous, stylopodium, absent; Fruit, 5 mm. × 3.5 mm. wide, ovate, glabrous, dorsally compressed, lateral ribs winged.

Field identification: Draba, probably D. reptans.

Field identification: Boechera fendleri

Field identification: Frasera speciosa.

Field identification: Rumex acetosella.

Coll. No. 1841, 17 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb from woody rootstock, to 30 cm., dioecious (all plants in this collection staminate); Leaves, basal and cauline similar, ocrea, 7-10 mm., petiole 20 mm. + blade 12-24 mm. × 6 mm. wide, base hastate, lobes pointing outward, tip acuminate; Pedicels, 1-3 mm.; Flowers, bulbar-like base, described as stipe-like, but does not look stipe-like such as that seen in Eriogonum umbellatum; Pedicels, 1-3 mm.; Tepals, #6, 1.7 mm., reddish.

Field identification: Juncus interior.

Field identification: Ribes cereum.

Friday, May 18th

Field identification: Descurainia incisa, but a field trip attendee thought Sisymbrium.

Descurainia keys in Ackerfield's (2015) Key 1 (Plants with branched, forked, stellate, or dolabriform hairs), whereas Sisymbrium keys in Key 3 (Plants glabrous or with simple hairs; leaves with a sagittate or auriculate base).

Coll. No. 1845, 18 May 2018, characters observed: Annual terrestrial herb, to 50 mm.; Roots, tap; Stem, erect, branched above, leafy, few simple hairs; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal compound, (petiole short if at all present), 120 mm. × 28 mm. wide, oblong, pinnately divided, few simple hairs on petioles, mid-ribs, and margins; cauline, nearly sessile, lanceolate, very finely pinnately divided; Flowers, radial; Sepals, #4, rows, 1, 3.5-4.5 mm. × 0.8 mm. wide, small hood-shaped appendage at tip; Petals, 7 mm. × 1.5 mm. wide, margin, entire, color, yellow; Stamens, tetradynamous, 3.6, 5.2 mm.; Filaments, plain; Anthers, 2 mm.; Stigma, (weakly) 2-lobed; Fruit, 17 mm. × 0.5 mm. wide, ascending, glabrous.

Field identification: Thlaspi arvense.

Field identification: Senecio integerrimus.

Field identification: Astragalus agrestis

Field identification: Astragalus agrestis

Field identification: grass, fine light-green ring forming perennial bunch grass.

Field identification: Astragalus sp., not currently on my list.

Coll. No. 1851, 18 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb, to 15 cm., Leaves, compound, stipules free, petiole, 15 mm., blade, 85 mm. × 22 mm. wide, leaflets, #23, 11 mm. × 3.5 mm. wide, terminal leaflet, not a tendril, hairs, simple, appressed, straight, Calyx, tube 8 mm. + lobes 3 mm., hairs, simple, some light and some dark, Flower, zygomorphic, white to blue, banner, 24 mm., glabrous, wings, claw, 10 mm., blade, 10 mm., keel, 20 mm., tip, obtuse; Style, persistent, 8 mm.; Fruit, 17 mm. × 7.3 mm. wide, oblong, glabrous.

Field identification: grass. Very small, annual, not Buffalo grass.

Coll. No. 1852, 18 May 2018, characters observed: Annual, 5-6 cm., tufted; Roots, fibrous; Sheath, 6 mm., open, minutely hairy; Ligule, membraneous, very short; Blade, 4.5 mm. × 0.3 mm. wide, rolled, glabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, raceme, 16 mm. × 5 mm. wide; Spikelets, #6, 6-7 mm., similar, 1 / node, many flowered; Compression, lateral; Disarticulation, between florets; Glumes, lower, 2 mm., vein, #1, upper, 3 mm., veins, #3, keeled, awns, #0; Florets, #5-6 per spikelets; Axis, short hairy abaxially; Lemma, 3.2 mm, >glumes, lanceolate, green, rolled, hairs, 0.2 mm., white/straw color, veins, #3, glabrous, tip entire, awns, #1, 1.8 mm., straight, attached to end; Palea, 2.7 mm., <lemma, membraneous, margin ciliate; keeled.

Field identification: grass. Revegetation bunch grass.

Coll. No. 1853, 18 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial grass, to 60 cm., tufted; Leaves, mostly basal, cauline leaves on flowering culms; Sheath, 75 mm., open, minutely scabrous; Blade, 70 mm. × 1 mm. wide, rolled, minutely scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, panicle, 115 mm. × 8 mm. wide, 2-3 branches, 2.5 mm.; Rachis, finely scabrous; Spikelets, many, similar, 9 mm. × 2 mm. wide, 1 per node; Compression, unremarkable; Disarticulation, unknown; Glumes, lower, 3 mm., veins, #1, upper, 4 mm., veins, #3, awns, #0, margins, entire; Florets, 4(5) per spikelet; Axis, few short hairs; Lemma, 4.5 mm., >glumes, lanceolate, membraneous, veins, #5, parallel, margin, chartaceous, tip, entire, acute, awns, #1, 2.5 mm., straight, attached, end (remove palea before making this determination), Palea, 4 mm., <lemma, membraneous, glabrous, tip, 2-forked; Anthers, 1.5 mm.

Placed in F. saximontana per the short anthers. This is one of several collections from North Washington Open Space that will key out as either F. idahoensis or F. saximontana, neither of which are really native to Golden. This was likely planted as part of a revegetation project. In fact, one voucher of this collection will contain remnants of the plastic netting commonly used in such projects.

Field identification: Poa sp., probably P. pratensis

Coll. No. 1854, 18 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, to 60 cm., 1 of 3 plants collected has a rhizome; Roots, fibrous; Stem, herbaceous; Internodes, hollow; Sheath, 90 mm., open; Ligule, membraneous; Blade, 45 mm. × 2.5 mm. wide, flat, scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, panicle, 85 mm. × 10 mm. wide, 4 branches per node; Spikelets, many, similar, 1 per node, 4 mm. × 1.2 mm. wide; Compression, lateral; Glumes, lower, 2 mm., veins, #1, upper, 2.7 mm., veins, #3, awns, #0; Florets, 2 per spikelet; Callus, hairs, ½ length of lemma, cobwebby; Lemma, 2.5 mm., >glumes, ovate, membraneous, keeled, hairy, veins, #3, tip, entire, awns, #0; Palea, 2 mm., green on veins, glabrous; Anthers, 1.2 mm.

Field identification: Koeleria macrantha, determination tentative. — Yikes!!

Coll. No. 1855, 18 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, to 50 cm., not rhizomatous; Internodes, hollow, glabrous; Sheath, 60 mm., open; Ligule, membranous, 4 mm., auricles, 0.2-0.3 mm.; Blade, 20-37 mm. × 2 mm. to 1 mm. wide, flat, tip folded and fused (prow-shaped), mid-rib and margins sparsely scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, panicle, 80 mm. × 11 mm. wide, 1-5  branches, 3-7 mm., spikelets, many; Rachis, sparsely scabrous, nodes yellowish; Spikelets, many, similar, 1 per node, 5-6.2 mm. × 1.5-2 mm. wide, 2-many flowered; Compression, unremarkable; Glumes, lower, 2.5 mm., veins, #3, upper, 3.2 mm., veins, #3, awns, #0; Florets, 3 per spikelet, fertile; Axis, sparsely hairy; Lemma, 3.5 mm., ±=glumes, lanceolate, membranous, rounded proximal ½ to weakly keeled above, wavy hairy (to 0.5 mm.) proximally, not cobwebby, color, green, veins, #5, ±parallel, tip, entire, obtuse, awns, #0; Palea, 3.2 mm., ±lemma, membranous, glabrous, greenish at base and margins, Anthers, 1.3 mm.

Field identification: Agropyron cristatum.

Wednesday, May 23rd

Tin Cup Ridge.

Field identification: Vicia americana.

Coll. No. 1857, 23 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb, to 30 cm., sprawling; Stem, not winged, hairs, simple, basifixed; Leaves, compound, stipules, free, 7 mm. × 3.5 mm. wide, leaflets, #10, 22 mm. × 3.7 mm. wide, oblong, terminal leaflet, a tendril, variously forked or not, hairs, simple, basifixed; Inflorescence, raceme, 3-4 flowers, pedicels 22-28 mm.; Calyx, tube 4-5 mm. + lobes 2 mm., longer abaxially, simple basifixed hairs; Flower, zygomorphic, banner, 18 mm., reflexed at middle, back glabrous, blade, 17 mm., keel, 13 mm., tip obtuse; Stigma, round, ring of hairs below stigma.

Field identification: Senecio integerrimus.

Field identification: Cerastium arvense

Field identification: Bromus tectorum

Field identification: Rhus aromatica trilobata.

Field identification: Lithospermum incisum

Field identification: Tragopogon dubius

Field identification: Asparagus officinale

Field identification: Castilleja integra.

Field identification: Oenothera suffrutescens.

Field identification: Ribes cereum.

Field identification: Prunus virginiana.

Field identification: Lappula redowski.

Field identification: Cynoglossum officinale.

Field identification: Arnica fulgens

Field identification: Arabis pycnocarpa.

Coll. No. 1872, 23 May 2018, characters observed: Annual or short-lived Perennial, terrestrial herb, to 60 cm. tall; Stem, erect, leafy, proximal hairs simple, distal glabrous; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal, simple, petiole, 10 mm., indistinct, blade 45 mm. × 10 mm. wide, oblanceolate, pinnately toothed, hairs, forked, not dolabriform, cauline, sessile, basally lobed, lanceolate, proximal leaves have a mix of simple and forked hairs, mid- to distal-leaves are glabrous, margin, entire; Inflorescence, raceme, 65 mm. × 15 mm. wide, not bracted, not secund; Flowers, radial; Pedicels, 3 mm.; Sepals, #4, rows 1, 4.2 mm. × 1.2 mm. wide, lanceolate, chartaceous, glabrous; Petals, 5 mm. × 1 mm. wide, somewhat spoon-shaped, margin entire, color, white to cream; Stamens, #6, 5.2 mm.; Filaments, plain; Anthers, 1 mm., exserted; Ovary, 5 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide; Stigma, capitate, 0.6 mm. wide, ±= width of ovary base (Welsh, 1993); Fruit, pedicels, 6 mm., ascending, nearly appressed, glabrous; mature, 12-16 mm. × 0.8 mm. wide, ascending, nearly appressed, not inflated, glabrous.

Field identification: Cryptantha virgata.

Field identification: Lepidium draba.

Thursday, May 24th

North Table Mountain Park, trailhead poarking lot to Ramstetter Reservoir and back.

Field identification: Fabaceae; best guess back in the office: Vicia villosa.

Coll. No. 1875, 24 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, herb, sprawling through the smooth brome, to 50 cm.; Leaves, compound, stipules, 13 mm. × 3 mm. wide, 2-lobed, petiole, 0, blade, 75 mm. × 28 mm. wide, leaflets, #13-15, 20 mm. × 4 mm. wide, linear-elliptic, terminal leaflet a tendril, forked, #3-4, hairs, straight; Inflorescence, raceme, secund, flowers, #±20; Calyx, tube 3 mm. + lobes 4 mm., narrow, hairs simple; Flower, zygomorphic, white to dark blue, banner, 16 mm., reflexed ¾, wings, 14 mm., clawed, dark blue, keel, 11 mm., tip obtuse; Style, ring of hairs below stigma, 0.6 mm.; Fruit, (immature) 5 mm. × 0.8 mm wide, lanceolate, glabrous.

Field identification: Camelina microcarpa

Coll. No. 1876, characters observed: Annual, terrestrial, herb, to 80 cm. tall; Stem, erect, mostly single, some branched mid-stem; Leaves, basal, absent or withered, cauline, #20-25, sessile, basally lobed, 62 mm. × 10 mm. wide, reduced above, lanceolate, hairs simple and forked; Inflorescence, to 200 mm. × 35 mm. wide, not bracted, not one-sided; Flowers, radial; Pedicels, 8 mm.; Sepals, #4, 2.4 mm. × 0.8 mm. wide, ovate, color, green, tip purplish, abaxially hairy; Petals, 4.0 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, oblong-spatulate, margin, entire, color, yellow; Stamens, #6, 3 mm.; Filaments, plain or maybe very narrowly winged; Anthers, 0.7 mm., ovate; Ovary, 1.8 mm. × 0.9 mm. wide; Style, 0.8 mm.; Stigma, capitate, 0.4 mm. wide; Fruit, pedicels, 15 mm., 3× than fruit, spreading, mature fruit, 5 mm. × 3.2 mm. wide, somewhat flattened, parallel to replum, coriaceous, short-winged, valve mid-vein apparent but not prominent; Seeds, many, 1.0 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, angled, papillate.

Field identification: Androsace occidentalis.

Field identification: Astragalus, probably A. flexuousus.

Coll. No. 1878, 24 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb, sprawling, to 30 cm., appressed basifixed straight white hairs throughout, plus black hairs in the inflorescence; Leaves, compound, stipules, 4 mm., triangular, entire, free (except possibly slightly connate on side opposite to petiole), petioles, 6 mm., blade, 45 mm. × 14 mm. wide, leaflets, #19, 7 mm. × 2.3 mm. wide, terminal leaflet present, Inflorescence, raceme; Calyx, tube 3 mm. + lobes 0.7 mm.; Flower, zygomorphic, banner, 9 mm., reflexed middle, back glabrous, wings, 8 mm., keel, 6 mm., tip obtuse, Fruit, legume, 7.5 mm. × 1.2 mm. wide, linear-lanceolate.

Field identification: Erigeron, probably E. tracyi.

Quite tall, and some buds are nodding.

Field identification: Salix, probably S. exigua.

Coll. No. 1880, 24 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial erect shrub, to 2 m.; Leaves, alternate, 21 mm. ×. 1.8 mm. wide, 11.7 ×long as wide, abaxial villous, adaxial mostly glabrous, margins entire, slightly revolute; Staminate catkins, 30 mm. × 6 mm. wide; Pistillate catkins, 42 mm. × 4 mm. wide, floral bract, 1.8 mm., capsule, 2.6 mm., glabrous.

Field identification: Carex sp.

Coll. No. 1881, 24 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, to 40 cm., from rhizomes; Rhizomes and culm bases ±black; Culm, ridges scabrous; Leaves, mostly basal or near basal, sheath, front hyaline without veins, ligule, 2 mm., blade, flat; Spikes, > 6 per culm, differentiated, androgynous; Bract, 9 mm., margin chartaceous proximal ⅔; Scales, ±clasping perigynia; Perigynia, 2.5-2.7 mm., beak 1.7 mm.

This was the first collection I keyed out using Wingate, J. L., 2017. Sedges of Colorado. I like the key therein, as the detailed descriptions.

Field identification: Plantago patagonica

Monday, May 28th

Field identification: Camelina microcarpa.

Field identification: Vicia americana.

Field identification: Salix sp., staminate.

Coll. No. 1886, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial tree, Twigs, young, dark brown; Leaves, alternate, petiole, 10-12 mm., tuft of hairs adaxially, glands absent at base of leaf, blade, 80 mm. × 26 mm. wide, 3.08 × long as wide, young leaves have slightly tangled white hairs both sides, mature leaves, green adaxially, glaucus abaxially, margin, serrate, tip, acuminate; Staminate catkins (aments), peduncle, 12 mm., spike, 47 mm. × 9 mm. wide, stamens, #4-5, 4.5 mm.; Pistillate catkins, absent.

Field identification: Arabis pycnocarpa

Coll. No. 1887, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Short-lived (?) perennial, terrestrial, herb, 45 cm. to 90 cm. tall; Roots, tap. Stem, erect, #1, (1 of 4 specimens has 2 stems), leafy, proximal, simple and forked hairs, distal, glabrous; Leaves, basal and cauline, basal simple, petiole, 6 mm., blade, 60 mm. × 15 mm. wide, oblanceolate, hairs, simple and forked, margin, dentate, tip, obtuse; cauline, #20, sessile, lobed, 2.5 mm., 40 mm. × 10 mm. wide, lanceolate, reduced above, margin, entire, becoming glabrous distally; Inflorescence, raceme, 70 mm. × 11 mm. wide, not bracted, not one-sided; Pedicels (at anthesis), 3-4 mm., glabrous; Sepals, #4, 2.5 mm. × 1.1 mm. wide, ovate, green, margin chartaceous; Petals, 4.5 mm. × 0.7 mm. wide, spatulate, margin entire, color, pinkish, fading lavender; Fruit, (24-) 80-85 mm. × 0.9 mm. wide, ascending-appressed, glabrous, flattened, parallel to replum, style, base 0.4-0.5 mm. wide, stigma, 0.8-0.9 mm. wide; Ovules, biseriate, many, 0.7 mm. × 0.3 mm. wide, tan, translucent, wing not apparent.

Field identification: Silene sp.

Coll. No. 1888, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Annual, to 60 cm.; Stem, proximal finely pubescent, distal glabrous, distal internodes frequently glutinous (a.k.a., “sticky band below upper leaves”); Leaves, basal, withered, cauline, opposite, connate proximally, 45 mm. × 8 mm. wide, oblanceolate, reduced above, margin ciliate; Inflorescence, cymose; Calyx, 8 mm. × 3.7 mm. fused; Petals, white to pink, barely exserted from calyx, withered and withdrawn after drying; Styles, #3.

Field identification: Poa sp.

Coll. No. 1889, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial grass, to 60 cm., rhizomatous; Roots, fibrous; Stem, herbaceous; Internodes, hollow, glabrous; Leaves, blade and sheath undifferentiated; Sheath, 86 mm., open; Ligule, membranous, 1.5 mm.; Blade, 26 mm., rolled, scabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, panicle, 70 mm. × 33 wide, pyramidal, up to 4 branches per node; Rachis, not extended, glabrous; Pedicels, 1.5 mm., sparsely scabrous; Spikelets, many, similar, 1 per node, 2-many flowered, 4.8 mm.; Compression, lateral; Disarticulation, above the glumes; Glumes, lower, 2.3 mm. vein, #1 upper, 2.6 mm., veins, #3, awns, 0; Florets, #3 per spikelet, fertile; Axis, glabrous, extended beyond upper floret; Lemma, 3 mm., >glumes, ovate, membranous, keeled, tangled hairs proximal ½ veins, likely 5 as the 2 outer veins that are visible are quite near margins, chartaceous, tip, acute, awns, 0; Palea, 3 mm., ±lemma, membranous, chartaceous, veins, #2, green, scabrous; Anthers, 1.6 mm.; Stigmas, feathery; Crypsela, brown.

I think I have been using chartaceous when I should have been using scarious or membranous for the thin, translucent margins of glumes and lemmas.

Field identification: Hesperostipa comata.

Coll. No. 1890, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, 50 cm., clumped, nonrhizomatous; Roots, fibrous; Stem, herbaceous; Leaves, blade and sheath differentiated; Sheath, 100-120 mm., open ≥½, glabrous; Ligule, membranous, length 3.7 mm., lacerate into 2 equal parts, auricles 0; Blade, 60 mm., involute, glabrous; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, panicle, 200 mm. × 30 mm. wide; Rachis, not extended, somewhat scabrous throughout; Spikelets, many, similar, borne singly; Compression, unremarkable; Disarticulation, above the glumes; Glumes, lower, 23 mm., veins #3, upper, 23 mm., veins #5, awl-shaped, rounded, membranous, ±equal, tip, very narrow, not awned; Florets, 1 per spikelet; Callus, 5 mm., sharp, straight hairs to 1.5 mm., color tan; Lemma, 9.5 mm., rolled, indurate, straight hairy 0.5 mm., color tan, veins #3(?), awns, #1, 160 mm., bent, twisted, hairs, short straight proximally, scabrous distally; Palea, 9 mm., ±lemma, few white hairs on mid-vein; Stamens, #3; Anthers, 6.5 mm.

Field identification: Erigeron divergens.

Field identification: Galium aparine.

Field identification: Koeleria macrantha.

Field identification: Chicorieae, later tentatively determined as Crepis occidentalis.

Coll. No. 1894, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial, herb, to 25 cm., taprooted; Stem, green, tomentose, glandular, no bristles; Leaves, basal and cauline, alternate, petiole 20 mm. + blade 56 mm. × 17 mm. wide, reduced distally, pinnately lobed nearly to mid-rib, segments deltoid, tomentose, glandular; Inflorescence, heads #3 per stem, showy, >leaves; Peduncles, 23 mm.; Involucre, 12 mm. × 12 mm. wide, cyindric, tomentose; Phyllaries, 2 graduated series, 3.5 mm. &tmes; 2 mm. wide, deltoid, 12.5 mm. × 3 mm. wide, lanceolate, ±flat, tomentose, gland-tipped black bristles evenly distributed; Receptacle, epaleate; Ray flowers (ligules), many, tube 6 mm. + blade 12.5 mm. × 2.4 mm. wide, yellow; Pappus, 9 mm. well-developed, bristles, ±equal, smooth; Fruit, 2 mm. × 1.3 mm. wide, brown, glabrous.

Field identification: Lomatium orientale.

Field identification: Linaria dalmatica.

Field identification: Senecio integerrimus.

Field identification: Hydrophyllum fendleri.

Field identification: Androsace occidentalis

Coll. No. 1899, 28 May 2018, characters observed: Annual herb, to 23 cm., ±minutely pubescent throughout, eglandular; Stem, round; Leaves, opposite below, but occurring in 3s above, 14 mm. × 3.5 mm. wide, oblanceolate, very short petiole if at all, generally glabrous except minute pubescence on entire margins; Inflorescence, indeterminant, axillary (or nearly entire plant inflorescence as seen in Veronica spp.); Pedicels, 4 mm. in flower, to 21 mm. in fruit, finely pubescent; Calyx, lobes, #5, tube 2 mm. + lobes 2.5-3.0 mm., keeled or mid-vein prominent, body purplish when young, fading tan, tips, green; Corolla, none found; Stamens, none found; (Possible that stamens are inserted on a corolla that is very early deciduous.) Ovary, 1.6 mm. × 1.4 mm. wide, globose, entire, very dark brown to black; Style, #1, 2.5-2.7 mm.; Stigma, simple; Fruit, capsule, 5 mm. × 2 mm. wide, entire, i.e., no notch, obovate; Seeds, #3, maybe 4, 2 mm. × 1.5 mm. wide, flattened, dark brown.

Thank you to Richard Old and Dean Wm. Taylor who helped me identify this by way of the Plant Identification group on Facebook.

Field identification: Veronica, maybe V. arvensis

Thursday, May 31st

Field identification: Erigeron sp.

Coll. No. 1901, 31 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial herb, from woody caudex, 10 cm.; Leaves, basal, petiole, 18-22 mm., 5 mm. × 6 mm. wide, ternately divided, glandular, straight multicellular hairy; Inflorescence, 1 head per stem; Peduncles, 40 mm., glandular, short straight spreading hairs; Involucre, 5 mm. × 10 mm. wide; Phyllaries, 2+ series, 6 mm. × 1.3 mm. wide, outer phyllaries glandular hairy, green mid-rib and distally, chartaceous then scarious toward margin, tip, acute, purplish; Receptacle, epaleate; Flowers, of 2 kinds; Ray flowers, #25, tube 1.8 mm. + blade 5.3 mm. × 1 mm. wide, white, fertile; Disk flowers, many, tube 3.5 mm. + lobes 0.3 mm., expanding gradually, yellow, open; Pappus, well-developed, bristles, 3.5-3.8 mm., ±equal, capillary; Cypsela, 2.2 mm. × 0.6 mm. wide, angled, brown, hairy.

Field identification: Packera plattensis.

Field identification: Gilia sp.

Field identification: Harbouria trachypleura.

Field identification: Grass, some sort of Poa sp.

Coll. No. 1905, 31 May 2018, characters observed: Perennial grass, to 45 cm., not rhizomatous, clumped; Roots, fibrous; Stem, herbaceous, compressed; Internodes, hollow, glabrous; Leaves, most leaves basal, blade and sheath differentiated; Sheath (cauline), 80 mm., open; Ligule, membranous, 1 mm., auricles, 0; Blade, 10 mm., involute, mid-rib and margins minutely scabrous, tip, prow-shaped; Inflorescence, 1 per culm, >leaves, panicle, 65 mm. × 10 mm. wide, 2 branches per node, spikelets, many; Rachis, not extended, finely scabrous; Pedicels, 1-2.8 mm.; Spikelets, many, similar, borne singly, 6 mm. × 2.2 mm. wide; Compression, lateral; Disarticulation, above the glumes; Glumes, lower, 3 mm., veins, #1, upper, 4 mm., veins, #5, weakly keeled, membranous, quite thin, awns, #0, margins, entire; Florets, 4 per spikelet, pistillate; Axis, sparsely scabrous, extended above upper floret; Lemma, 4 mm., >glumes, membranous, keeled, proximal, color, green proximal to scarious distally, mid-vein and lateral veins are hairy proximally, margin, scarious, tip, entire, obtuse, awns, 0; Palea, 2.5 mm., <lemma, keel ciliate, margin glabrous, veins, green; Crypsela, green, 1.5 mm.

Field identification: Mertensia lanceolata.