The powerline easement is, of course, kept clear of large vegetation. So this leaves an area for some bare spots for easier searching for Tiny Tim (Geocarpon minimum).
Indeed, the powerline easement had lots of good bare spots!
Beautiful Sedum or Texas Stonecrop (Sedum pulchellum) and mosses!
Exposed rocks were covered with lichens, Spike-moss (Selaginella arenicola), and mosses!
Like an artist’s palette!
The annual Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa) was starting.
Squamulose lichens clustered together.
More tiny succulent-like plants.
Goat’s Rue (Tephrosia virginiana) was a plant that I am not very familiar with. Jeanne of course is. Anyway, I looked it up. Lower petals are pink; upper petals are pale yellow. It is a member of the legume family (Fabaceae or Leguminosae). Bloom time at Fossil Hill is May. Interestingly, the plant was used as fish poison. The leaves were pounded and the stunned fish rose to the surface. I guess it wasn’t dangerous to eat the fish? At least no one, has come forward. LOL Additionally, it is used medicinally by early Americans. (FNCT) Also the rotenone is now used as insecticide.
Artists palette indeed. Gorgeous.
Fossil Hill is so pretty and interesting!