Day 185: Another early-season favourite from the Rimrocks trail is Veronica regina-nivalis, aka Snow Queens. They're located within easy distance of parking, which saves me having to hike three miles in Pack Forest to see them in the first place I discovered them. Formerly known as Synthyris reniformis ("reniform" referring to the kidney-shaped foliage), these dainty clusters of flowers have two purple anthers peeking out of each bell. They are easy to miss in the shady, moist habitat they prefer, often barely rising above a carpet of moss or other vegetation. Unless you live in the Pacific Northwest (for this discussion, that includes northern California), you will probably be unfamiliar with this native plant.
No comments:
Post a Comment