August Wildflowers at Sedillo

NEARLY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

After a hot dry weekend during the new moon, when the Monsoons were interrupted by a high-pressure ridge, they have resumed in full force, with cloudbursts on Sunday and Monday evenings, and a long morning rain yesterday here at Sedillo in the Sandias.

The August wildflowers are beginning to open up and bring color to our muted pinyon-juniper woodland.

Helianthus neomexicanis

New Mexico Sunflower

Asteraceae --the Aster family (formerly called Composites)

Erigeron compositus

Cutleaf Daisy

aka Fleabane

Asteraceae--Aster family

(There has been some move to put

the erigerons in their own family.

I don't know what has happened with that).

Physalis ixocarpa

Tomatillo (Mexican Ground Cherry)

Solanaceae--Potato Family

This has flowers in which the calyx forms the chinese latern of green around the fruit.

Melilotus officialis

Sweet Clover

Leguminaceae--Pea Family

There is also a white variety, called M. albus.

Bouteloua gracilis

Blue Gramma Grass

Poeaceae--Grass family

Yes, grasses are flowering plants! Wind pollenated, they do not create showy flowers, though. The grass flower is quite small and unique. Here you can see the characteristic "eye-brow" of the flower. Black gramma is more robust and has a hairy root.

Gilia aggregata

Scarlet Gilia aka Foxfire

Polemoniaceae--Phlox family

Sphaeralcea var.

Globemallow aka Falsemallow

Malvaceae--Mallow family

The leaves and stems of these, crushed, make a fine poultice for muscle aches. Although the flowers are usually orange, I have seen pink and white and yellow, as well.