Jeff Quayle led a field trip this morning. His field trips are always so informative and fun. We had two stops. First stop will be today’s post.
We were on a limestone barren. And my first photo was of the Sedum (Sedum nuttalianum). It glowed yellow!
The Rock Sandwort (Minuartia michauxii syn Sabulina michauxii) was new for me. It is a perennial and in the Pink or Carnation family (Caryophyllaceae). Now it will be on my radar for sure! 🙂
Of course going with Jeff means a rare plant or two may be in the mix. This is the Comanche Peak Prairie-clover (Dalea reverchonii). In fact its conservation status is G2 (Imperiled). So it is very special to see one!
Though Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium) is secure in its ranking globally, it still brings a smile to me. The crab spider was a bonus!
Pale Yucca (Yucca pallida) was nice even though it was not blooming here. In Wise County, the Arkansas Yucca is the more common species.
As you can see the leaves are smooth. The Arkansas Yucca has stringy hairs that are on the leaf edges. However, there are several other species in North Central Texas that have the stringy leaves.
This was not on Jeff’s radar, but it certainly caught my attention. A squamulose lichen! Furthermore I have never seen one quite like it before. A small sample was collected for further investigate. Hopefully I can ID it.
What a cool color on this Pineapple Cactus (Coryphantha sulcata)!
Then no more than a foot or so from the above cactus was another color of the Pineapple Cactus (Coryphantha sulcata)!
That Comamche Peak Dalea is fabulous. What a color!
I love Pineapple Cactus. This color is really something though! I have seen lots here but will have to watch to see if there are any color variations. My Twisted Rib has a color variation with some reddish tinges in the yellow.
And how interesting that your sedum is ahead of mine, although I saw it north of me last week. I’ll have to tell mine to hurry up.
Pale Yucca is one that I sure would like to grow. I have lots of Twistleaf and Buckley’s but Pale is so striking in its foliage.
The bronze colored cactus flower sure is pretty. Looks like another hard days work😄
Oh it was🤣
What a fun day! Glad you got to go!
That Comamche Peak Dalea is fabulous. What a color!
I love Pineapple Cactus. This color is really something though! I have seen lots here but will have to watch to see if there are any color variations. My Twisted Rib has a color variation with some reddish tinges in the yellow.
And how interesting that your sedum is ahead of mine, although I saw it north of me last week. I’ll have to tell mine to hurry up.
Pale Yucca is one that I sure would like to grow. I have lots of Twistleaf and Buckley’s but Pale is so striking in its foliage.
That is really weird about the Sedum because you are almost always are head of us. Very strange indeed!
What a fun stop! The barrens are always so full of lovely sights.
You got that right! 🙂