After looking at the mosses on the sandstone rocks, Jennifer headed us up to the top of a hill where the soil was now limestone based.
Jennifer pointed out the mussel fossil. And a bunch of tiny crinoids were embedded too. Additionally don’t miss the red mite that snuck in the photo. 😉
A surprise find was a lone Lace Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii)!
Indeed a really neat find was the Horse Crippler Cactus (Echinocactus texensis)!
Then the calls of the Sandhill Cranes alerted us to their presence. It took a minute or two to locate them high above us!
Two crustose lichens in black and white. 🙂
How wonderful to see the Purple Groundcherry (Quincula lobata)!
A close view of the flower.
Then I decided to look closer at the backside. I found these specks on the calyx and the stem. And no they were not bugs.
So I headed to the FNCT to learn more. The species is more common to the west. And what about the white specks? Well the FNCT says they are on the “young parts granulose-whitened (due to short-stalked white crystalline vesicles which collapse upon drying”. A vesicle is a small bladder or cavity. This species is located in Wise County too. However I had not run across one…yet. 😉
Finally a look at the Steward’s weekend lodging. I wondered if they had been speaking with Noah about an upcoming flood. 😉
Thank you Jeff for the invite! It had been a wonderful day exploring the Steward Ranch. And thank you Jennifer for having us!
Striking black and white lichens. And Bull Ship? 😄😄 thanks for the chuckle.