Shaft Of Light

Day 35: The forests of the Pacific Northwest tend to be rather dark, especially at this time of the year, and it is that very absence of light which makes our understory so singular. Rich in ferns and mosses, the deep woods hosts a rich variety of "sun-fleck" species, i.e., those vascular plants which, although requiring light to initiate the photosynthetic processes, nevertheless cannot endure it for protracted periods. Relying on only fleeting, momentary exposure to sun, plants like Oxalis (Oxalis oregana) and Pathfinder (Adenocaulon bicolor) would wither under direct rays. Piercing gaps between branches and trunks, shafts of light touch the undergrowth but briefly and then move on, having bestowed their ephemeral gift on those who will make the most of it through their unique genetic adaptations.