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Johnson Valley,
January 31, 2006 |
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| Above: Wait-a-minute bush (Acacia greggii) on basalt; close-up of spines, infested with mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum). The Acacia will only leaf out after rain, while this Phoradendron species is always green but leafless. | |||
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| Above left to right: Dried flower heads of California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), remains of the flower heads of Cottonthorn (Tetradymia stenolepis), Mojave yucca (Yucca shidigera), and small fruits of Turpentine broom (Thamnosma montana) | |||
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| Above left to right: A cottony fruit of Cottontop cactus (Echinocactus polycephalus) is hidden beneath the pink spines; Pencil cholla (Opuntia ramosissima) in fruit; the Beavertail (Opuntia basilaris) is wrinkled from lack of water, yet still green; a few fruits of the Paper bag bush (Salazaria mexicana) still cling on. | |||
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| Above left: Green ephedra (Ephedra viridis) stays green throughout the year. Some petroglyphs can be seen on the basalt in the background. Above right: A close-up of the fruit that still clings to the dormant, leafless Pima rhatany (Krameria erecta). | |||
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| Above left: The gummy, black bands of creosote stems are from the Creosote lac scale insect (Tachardiella larrea). Middle: Desert almond (Prunus fasciculata) is now dormant, but you can see old leaves clinging on, as well as swollen buds that will give rise to the next season's leaves. Right: The fruits of the Four-winged saltbush (Atriplex canescens). | |||