Flora

20 Mule Team Road is the best location for wildflowers. Some can also be found in undisturbed lots around the town. The town has landscaped the median on 20 Mule Team Road, to include Willows and Apache Plumes,

Click on the photograph to view a larger size in a new Tab. In the new Tab, click on the photograph to switch between fit-to-screen, and full size, where you can scroll around to look at details.

Fiddleneck Amsinckia tessellata The genus is named for Wilhelm Amsinck, 19th century patron of a botanical garden in Hamburg The common name "Fiddleneck" refers to the violin shape of the stem. I was interested in the hairs on the leaves, and later realized I did not photograph the flower close up, so I've included two from another location.	Brown-eyed Primrose Camissonia claviformis The genus is named for Adelbert von Chamisso (Camisso), French-born 18th century German naturalist on the "Rurik" which visited Alaska and California in 1816 claviformis is from the Latin for "club-shaped"
Brown-eyed Primrose Camissonia claviformis Formerly placed in genus Oenothera, Camissonia is separated due in part to the round stigma.	Desert Willow Chilopsis linearis Chilopsis: From the Greek cheilos (lip) and -opsis (resembling), referring to the lip-like shape of the calyx. linearis: linear, or lined, referring to the shape of the leaves.
These beautiful trees line the median at the western end of town. As I walk underneath the branches, the attractive flowers look down, as if watching me.	The linear leaves are a striking backdrop for the flowers.
Desert Willow seedling	Desert Willow with seed pods.
Whitemargin Sandmat; Rattlesnake Weed Euphorbia albomarginata Euphorbia: Named for Euphorbus, Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania Formerly genus Chamaesyce , an unfortunate name change which loses the descriptive meaning of the original. Chamaesyce: From the Greek chamai (on the ground). Not all Euphorbia are flat on the ground! albomarginata: white margin, refering to the white area on the flower.	Tufted Poppy Eschscholzia caespitosa The genus is named for doctor-naturalist Johann Friedrich Gustav von Eschscholtz. caespitosa: tufted
	Desert Dandelion Malacothrix glabrata Malacothrix: From the Greek malakos (soft) and thrix (hair) glabrata: Somewhat smooth
Desert Dandelion Malacothrix glabrata	Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa A row of these distinctive shrubs is in the median towards the west end of town. Fallugia: Named for Abbott Virgilio Fallugi, 17th century Italian botanist paradoxa: Strange, anomalous, perhaps referring to the plumes
Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa This plant is in the Rose family.	Apache Plume Fallugia paradoxa The plumes hold the seeds, and are formed as the petals drop off. That day at Boron, they were not very pretty - old and matted - so I've included a photograph of these attractive plumes from a plant in my garden.
Desert Mallow; Globe Mallow; Apricot Mallow Sphaeralcea ambigua sphaeralcea: from sphaer = sphere, globe; + alcea, a mallow	The color is variable red-orange; this is the deepest, dark I've seen.
	Joshua Tree Yucca brevifolia Yucca: Central and South American name for the cassava plant, 1550s, from Spanish yuca, juca brevifolia: Short leaves
The Joshua Tree is endemic to the Mojave Desert.	Fritillary Butterfly on a California Rabbitbrush

Return to Boron