Part 4

This interesting plant, known also as Oyster Plant, has been naturalized from Europe and is now quite common in the West. It has a smooth, stout hollow stem about 2 feet tall, rather dark-green, smooth leaves clasping at the base, and handsome flowers from 2 to 4 inches across. The flowers open early in the morning, closing at midday, to remain closed until the next morning.

Meadow Salsify is most commonly found along the roadways or in other places where the native soil has been disturbed.

See Figure 105 for description of the seed of this flower.

105. MEADOW SALSIFY Sunflower Family _Tragopogon pratensis_

This habitat view of the Meadow Salsify illustrates one of the important ways in which plants scatter their seeds about. As the flower matures into seeds in a conspicuous and very large, dandelion-like head, each seed is equipped with a perfect parachute of silky fibers. Winds often sweep these flight-equipped seeds for many miles and result in wide dissemination of this species, which was introduced into this country from Europe not very long ago.

The seeds of many plants are scattered about in various ways—some by wind, others by water and many by the birds and animals.

106. ARROWLEAF BALSAMROOT Sunflower Family _Balsamorhiza sagittata_

This plant, with its large, showy yellow flowers, is often found on the southern exposures of steep hillsides or in the Sagebrush flats. It was first discovered by Lewis and Clark on their expedition across the continent in 1804-1806.

The rind of the root contains a turpentiny balsam, but the heart of the root is edible and was used by the Indians and early pioneers. The plant is called Mormon Biscuit in Utah. The seeds of the plant were used by the Indians to make “Pinole” or meal, and the stems and leaves were eaten as greens.

107. WESTERN WALLFLOWER Mustard Family _Erysimum capitatum_

There are two kinds of Wallflowers in Zion National Park. Their bright-yellow flowers, which grow on stalks taller than those of most other mustards, make them among the most attractive members of this family. They are usually found on rather dry slopes in the Upper Sonoran and Transition Zones.

Notice how the petals are arranged as a cross which is a characteristic of all members of the Cruciferae or Mustard Family.

108. BITTERCRESS Mustard Family _Cardamine hirsuta_

You may find this plant blooming during April and May in the Sonoran Zones of Zion National Park. Its habitat is generally the dry sandy hillsides rather than the deep canyons.

The wide-spreading, circular, doom-shaped clumps present an attractive display in pure white flowers. The petals of four are arranged like a cross.

Being a perennial, the clumps seem to expand from year to year and often reach a spread of four to five feet across. The plants are useful in building soil and in preventing erosion.

109. HUMMINGBIRD TRUMPET Evening-primrose Family _Zauschneria garrettii_

One of the late blooming plants in Zion National Park is the Hummingbird Trumpet, also called Fire-chalice, or sometimes the Wild Fushia. It can often be found on the Canyon Overlook Trail or on the West Rim Trail at elevations near 6,000 feet.

It can be identified by the narrow oval leaves pointed and toothed, and the fushialike flowers, narrowly funnel-shaped, with the pistil and stamens extending beyond the petals.

The brilliant scarlet of this flower in fairly dense clusters makes a very attractive display in late August and September.

INDEX

Common Name Scientific Name Figure Number A

Alfilera Erodium circutraium 48 American Harebell Campanula rotundifolia 92 Antelope Bitterbrush Purshia tridentata 34 Arnica, Heartleaf Arnica cordifolia 103 Arrowleaf Balsamroot Balsamorhiza sagittata 106 Aster, Purple Aster sp. 96

B

Balsamroot, Arrowleaf Balsamorhiza sagittata 106 Baneberry, Western Actaea arguta 20 Bearberry Honeysuckle Lonicera involucrata 90 Beavertail Cactus Opuntia basilaris 61 Bitterbrush, Antelope Purshia tridentata 34 Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta 108 Bitterroot Lewisia rediviva 14 Blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima 35 Blazingstar, Desert Mentzelia multiflora 57 Bluebells, Mountain Mertensia ciliata 78 Bluedicks Dichelostemma pulchellum 4 Buckhorn Cholla Cactus Opuntia acanthocarpa 62 Buckwheat, Wild Eriogonum umbellatum 8 Buffaloberry, Roundleaf Shepherdia rotundifolia 65 Bush Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa 36 Buttercup, Sand Ranunculus juniperinus 21 Buttercup Ranunculus sp. 16 Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa 75

C

Cactus Fruit Opuntia engelmannii 64 Calypso Orchid Calypso bulbosa 11 Cardinalflower, Western Lobelia splendens 93 Cinquefoil, Bush Potentilla fruticosa 36 Chokecherry Prunus virginiana 40 Cliffrose, Stansbury Cowania stansburiana 33 Columbine Aquilegia sp. 17 Coneflower Rudbeckia occidentalis 25 Creosotebush Larrea tridentata 50 Curlycup Gumweed Grindelia squarrosa 95

D

Deathcamas, Mountain Zigadenus elegans 7 Desertbeauty Dalea Dalea johnsoni 46 Desert Blazingstar Mentzelia multiflora 57 Desert Globemallow Sphaeralcea ambigua 53 Desert Marigold Baileya multiradiata 101 Desert Princesplume Stanleya pinnata 26 Desert Sage Salvia carnosa 80

E

Eaton Penstemon Penstemon eatoni 83 Elder, Red-berried Sambucus racemosa 31 Elephanthead Pedicularis Pedicularis groenlandica 91 Elk Thistle Cirsium foliosum 24 Engelmann Pricklypear Cactus Opuntia engelmannii 64 Ephedra, Green Ephedra viridis 9 Euphorbia, Whitemargin Euphorbia albomarginata 51 Evening-primrose, White Oenothera caespitosa 66 Evening-primrose, Yellow Oenothera strigosa 67

F

Fineleaf Yucca Yucca angustissima 6 Firechalice Zauschneria garrettii 109 Fireweed Epilobium angustifolium 54 Flax, Lewis Linum lewisii 49 Fleabane Erigeron speciosus 97 Four-O’Clock Mirabilis multiflora 12 Fourwing Saltbush Atriplex canescens 10 Fremont Geranium Geranium fremontii 47 Fremont Barberry Berberis fremonti 23 Fringed Gentian Gentiana thermalis 74 Fritillary, Purplespot Fritillaria atropurpurea 5

G

Gaillardia Gaillardia parryi 100 Gentian, Fringed Gentiana thermalis 74 Gentian, Green Frasera speciosa 70 Geranium, Fremont Geranium fremontii 47 Gilia, Skyrocket Gilia aggregata 77 Globemallow, Scarlet Sphaeralcea coccinea 52 Globemallow, Desert Sphaeralcea ambigua 53 Green Ephedra Ephedra viridis 9 Green Gentian Frasera speciosa 70 Greenleaf Manzanita Arctostaphylis patula 69 Gumweed, Curlyleaf Grindelia squarrosa 95

H

Harebell, American Campanula petiolata 92 Heartleaf Arnica Arnica cordifolia 103 Hedgehog Cactus Echinocereus coccineus 58 Honey Mesquite Prosopis juliflora 41 Honeysuckle, Bearberry Lonicera involucrata 90 Hummingbird Trumpet Zauschneria garrettii 109

I

Indianpotato Orogenia linearifolia 72 Indian Paintbrush Castilleja coccinea 88

L

Larkspur Delphinium sp. 18 Lewis Flax Linum lewisii 49 Ligusticum, Porter Ligusticum porteri 68 Littleleaf Mountainmahogany Cercocarpus intricatus 32 Loco Astragalus sp. 43 Locust, New Mexico Robinia neomexicana 45 Lupine Lupinus sp. 42

M

Manzanita, Greenleaf Arctostaphylis patula 69 Mariposa, Segolily Calochortus nuttallii 1 Mariposa, Yellow Calochortus nuttallii var. aureus 2 Marigold, Desert Baileya multiradiata 101 Marshmarigold Caltha leptosepala 15 Meadow Salsify Tragopogon pratensis 104-105 Mesquite, Honey Prosopis juliflora 41 Milkweed, Butterfly Asclepias tuberosa 75 Monkeyflower Mimulus cardinalis 87 Monkshood Aconitum columbianum 19 Mountain Bluebells Mertensia ciliata 78 Mountain Deathcamas Zigadenus elegans 7 Mountainmahogany, Littleleaf Cercocarpus intricatus 32 Mountain Sunflower Helianthella uniflora 98 Mullein Verbascum thapsus 81

N

New Mexico Locust Robinia neomexicana 45

O

Oregon Grape Berberis repens 22 Oysterplant - Meadow Salsify Tragopogon pratensis 104-105

P

Palmer Penstemon Penstemon palmeri 85 Parry Primrose Primula parryi 71 Penstemon, Eaton Penstemon eatoni 83 Penstemon, Palmer Penstemon palmeri 85 Penstemon, Royal Penstemon speciosus 82 Penstemon, Thickleaf Penstemon pachyphyllus 84 Phlox, Pink Phlox canescens 76 Pinedrops, Woodland Pterospora andromedea 55 Poisonvetch Astragalus sabulosus 44 Porter Ligusticum Ligusticum porteri 68 Prairiesmoke Geum triflorum var. ciliatum 37 Prairie Spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis 3 Pricklepoppy Argemone platyceras 28 Pricklypear Cactus Opuntia rhodantha 60 Princesplume, Desert Stanleya pinnata 26 Puccoon, Narrowleaf Lithospermum incisum 79 Purplespot Fritillary Fritillaria atropurpurea 5 Purple Torch Cactus Echinocereus engelmanii 59

R

Rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus sp. 94 Rocky Mountain Beeplant Cleome serrulata 29 Rose, Wild Rosa sp. 38 Roundleaf Buffaloberry Shepherdia rotundifolia 65 Royal Penstemon Penstemon speciosus 82

S

Sacred Datura Datura meteloides 86 Sage, Desert Salvia carnosa 80 Saltbush, Fourwing Atriplex canescens 10 Sand Buttercup Ranunculus juniperinus 21 Scarlet Globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea 52 Segolily Mariposa Calochortus nuttalli 1 Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia 39 Shootingstar Dodecatheon pauciflorum 73 Skyrocket Gilia Gilia aggregata 77 Spiderflower, Yellow Cleome lutea 30 Snowberry Symphoricarpos utahensis 89 Spiderwort, Prairie Tradescantia occidentalis 3 Springbeauty Claytonia lanceolata 13 Stansbury Cliffrose Cowania stansburiana 33 Stonecrop Sedum stenopetalum 27 Sunflower, Common Helianthus annuus 99 Sunflower, Mountain Helianthella uniflora 98

T

Thickleaf Penstemon Penstemon pachyphyllus 84 Thistle, Elk Cirsium foliosum 107

V

Violet, Yellow Viola praemorsa 56

W

Western Baneberry Actaea arguta 20 Western Cardinalflower Lobelia splendens 93 Western Wallflower Erysimum capitatum 107 Western Yarrow Achillea lanulosa 102 Whitemargin Euphorbia Euphorbia albomarginata 51 Wild Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum 8 Wild Rose Rosa sp. 38 Woodland Pinedrops Pterospora andromedea 55

Y

Yarrow, Western Achillea lanulosa 102 Yellow Mariposa Calochortus nuttallii var. aureus 2 Yellow Spiderflower Cleome lutea 30 Yellow Violet Viola praemorsa 56 Yucca, Fineleaf Yucca angustissima 6

REFERENCES

Arnberger, Leslie P. (Drawings by Jeanne R. Janish)

_Flowers of the Southwest Mountains_. Southwestern Monuments Assoc., Globe, Arizona, 1952.

Armstrong, Margaret

_Field Book of Western Wild Flowers_. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1915.

Bailey, H. E. and Bailey, V. L.

_Woody Plants of the Western National Parks_. The University Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1949.

Benson, Lyman

_The Cacti of Arizona_. University of New Mexico Press, 1950.

Clements, Frederic E. and Clements, Edith S.

_Rocky Mountain Flowers_. The H. W. Wilson Co., New York, 1928.

Coulter, John M. and Nelson, Aven

_New Manual of Botany of the Central Rocky Mountains_. American Book Company, New York, 1919.

Dodge, Natt N. (Drawings by Jeanne R. Janish)

_Flowers of the Southwest Deserts_. Southwestern Monuments Association, Globe, Arizona, 1954.

Jaeger, Edmund C.

_Desert Wild Flowers_. Stanford University Press, Revised Edition, 1944.

Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature

_Standardized Plant Names_. Second Edition 1942. J. Horace McFarland Co.

Kearney, Thomas H. and Pebble, Robert H.

_Arizona Flora_. University of California Press, 1951.

McDougal, W. B. and Baggley, Herma A.

_Plants of Yellowstone National Park_. Revised Edition, Yellowstone Library and Museum Association, 1956.

McDougal, W. B. and Sperry, Omar E.

_Plants of Big Bend National Park_. Government Printing Office, 1951.

McDougal, W. B.

_Checklist of Plants of Grand Canyon National Park_. Bulletin No. 10. Grand Canyon Natural History Association, 1947.

Patraw, Pauline M. (Drawings by Jeanne R. Janish)

_Flowers of the Southwest Mesas_. Southwestern Monuments Association, Globe, Arizona, 1954.

Presnall, C. C. and Patraw, Pauline M.

_Plants of Zion National Park_. Bulletin No. 1. Zion-Bryce Natural History Association, 1937.

Preston, Richard J.

_Rocky Mountain Trees_. The Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa, 1947.

Saunders, Charles Francis

_Western Wild Flowers and Their Stories_. Doubleday, Doran Co., 1933.

Tidestrom, Ivar

_Flora of Utah and Nevada_. Government Printing Office, 1925.

WHEELWRIGHT LITHOGRAPHING COMPANY SALT LAKE CITY UTAH

Transcriber’s Notes

—Silently corrected a few typos.

—Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication.

—In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.