Discover Top Posts Tagged with #owlclover

Bear Mountain Sunset by Guy Schmickle https://flic.kr/p/2n525S8

#Flickr #arizona #bearmountain #coconinonationalforest #desertplants #sedona #owlclover #sunriseorsun

Meeting Castilleja exserta in the wild is a treat! I was very lucky to spot these little pink flowers- it's still early in the winter rainy season for this species to be blooming. As climate change continues, I bet we'll see more early bloomers as these individuals spread their genes to the next generation. Some common names of this spring annual are escobita and purple Indian-paintbrush or owl clover. I've always wondered about name owl clover. Maybe the flowers resemble owls? Many owl clovers do cover the ground much like some clover species, creating a lawn like effect (most owl clover species are in the genus Orthocarpus. Castilleja exserta used to be O. purpurascens). I'm moving to Southern California soon and will hopefully meet C. exserta there. It'll be nice to see some familiar faces! #Orobanchaceae #SonoranDesert #Arizona #Castilleja #Castillejaexserta #Orthocarpus #indianpaintbrush #owlclover #botany #botanize #plants #nature #wildflowers #pink #winter #desert #tinythings (at Cave Creek Regional Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsMUhYLlhNZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1847o21wr26g3

#orobanchaceae #sonorandesert #arizona #castilleja #castillejaexserta #orthocarpus #indianpaintbrush #owlclover #botany #botanize #plants #nature #wildflowers #pink #winter #desert #tinythings

It's amazing how strange flowers can be! Here's a little pencil study and color trial for a Castilleja exserta piece I'm working on. I love turning tiny plants into larger than life illustrations! Especially the weird ones 😃. In yesterday's post, I didn't mention the micro-habitat I met these lovely little plants in. The 3rd photos shows a small depression in the ground off of a 2-track trail in a shallow valley. As you can see in the right side of the photo, there is a small, grassy berm. The berm serves as a dam, collecting and storing water whenever it’s available, allowing C. exserta and other small plants to take advantage of the increased moisture. The berm also roughly faces south, blocking the depression from direct sunlight for parts of the day and increasing moisture retention. The last photo was taken by Max Licher at Red Canyon Road, west of Sedona, and shows how C. exserta can carpet the ground. #Orobanchaceae #SonoranDesert #Arizona #Castilleja #Castillejaexserta #Orthocarpus #indianpaintbrush #owlclover #botany #botanize #plants #nature #wildflowers #pink #winter #desert #tinythings #art #science #scientificillustration #botanicalillustration #ecology #illustration (at Cave Creek, Arizona) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsObIAPlFsp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ojnouayrizyp

My first sighting of Orthocarpus luteus, yellow owl-clover, at the Casner Park meadow. I love these little forbs...though their flowers put me in mind of goldfish rather than owls, presumably what their common name refers to. #Orobanchaceae #Orthocarpus #OrthocarpusLuteus #owlclover #arizona #ponderosapineforest #nativeplants #botanize #botany #plants #nature #naturephotography #plantstagram #natureishappiness #yellow (at Arizona)