Some featured plants from the May reconnaissance trip to our Utah sites:
Ribes aureum in the Grossulariaceae. This western currant species has showy flowers that will be followed by small bright orange red berries. This specimen was photographed above 8000 feet on Cedar Mountain. The genus is a known host plant for Nemoria unitaria.
Physaria acutifolia, a yellow flowered perennial in the mustard family, Brassicaceae. This plant has the common name Rydberg’s twin pod or bladderpod. It was named by Per Axel Rydberg, a Swedish-American botanist.
Phlox diffusa, a member of the Polemoniacae and a cousin of our ornamental garden phlox species.
The very fragrant flowers of Berberis (Mahonia) fremontii, a name that honors two early Americans, the Philadelphia botanist Bernard McMahon and the 19th century territorial governor of Arizona John C Fremont. This plant stands out in its sharp leathery turquoise leaves and its bright yellow flowers. It is related to Berberis (and our invasive shrub crimson barberry) in the Berberidaceae.
A Cryptantha species in the Boraginaceae, a complex genus of many species with a wide variety of types and forms.