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What
Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
This resurrection plant has not yet been revived by the rain, it's stems are still curled up towards its center. Found growing out of the rock in a shaded valley close to the field station.
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Crown of Thorns (Koeberlinia spinosa)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
This very large crown of thorns shrub was found in a plains area near an artificial spring. it was about 2 feet tall and 5 feet wide. You can see the old dead growth interspersed with the green new growth.
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Smooth Sotol (Dasylirion leiophyllum)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
3-4 sotols of the Asparagaceae family to the left of the picture. Leaves are long and thin, fibrousy. with small cornered marginal spines. Flowers had not yet bloomed.
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Narrowleaf Globemallow (Sphaeralcea angustifolia)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
I found this in early Spring so not many were blooming yet. The leaves are opposite and deeply/sharply lobed. The flowers have 5 free orange petals and monodelphous stamens. The vegetative portion of the plant is covered in small hairs. Found near a parking lot of a trail leading up the mountain.
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Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Found this bee in the Chihuahuan Desert Gardens pollinating a flower. I'm not sure what species it is.
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Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Found this bee resting on a rock in the shade of a small valley. It doesn't appear to have the striping of a honey/bumble bee so I'm not quite sure what it is.
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Thin-legged Wolf Spiders (Genus Pardosa)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
The spider is located at the top of the image, it was medium-sized and I think it's a male because of the smaller abdomen. The legs appear to have striping and I'm not exactly sure what the 4 black spots at the head are.
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Crescents (Genus Phyciodes)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
I'm not sure what kind of butterfly this is. It's not very big, about the size of a quarter. The vertical white stripes on its forewings are tripping me up, I can't find a similar enough species. Found on the rocky shoreline of an artificial spring in far west Texas.
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Bristle Flies (Family Tachinidae)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Found this insect resting on the shoreline of an artificial spring. It was about 1 inch by 1 inch. I think its a tachinid fly because it's covered in bristly hairs and was kind of thick? Also, the calypters at the base of the wings seems large enough to qualify.
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Roundtail Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma modestum)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
This lizard was a good size, about 3-4 inches long. He also exhibited great camouflage skills and was a quick runner.
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Lizards (Suborder Sauria)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
This interesting grasshopper was blended very well into its environment (looks exactly like a rock!). It was around 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches.
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Dragonflies and Damselflies (Order Odonata)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Found this dragonfly nymph sitting on a rock in a natural spring. Was about 1-2 inches long and was located underneath the water. Could be a damselfly.
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Desert Stink Beetles (Genus Eleodes)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Stumbled upon this beetle who was already perched in its defensive position. Did not see it spray. Was about 1-1.5 inches long. Found in a flat gravelly area in the middle of a trail.
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Half-edged Wall Jumping Spider (Menemerus semilimbatus)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Found this spider on a shaded wall in the UTEP Chihuahuan Desert Gardens. He was about the size of a dime and moved quickly. Assumed male because of the smaller abdomen.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Common woodlouse found outside of my home, crawling onto my driveway. Exoskeleton is relatively smooth and evidence of 2 calcium deposits on its fifth and eighth shell sections.
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Brown-spined Pricklypear Complex (Complex Opuntia phaeacantha)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Prickly Pear cactus. Found along a trail in a rocky hillside, prominent throughout the space. Many flowers are in bloom or blooming. Flowers have bright red-to-yellow tepals arranged in numerous whorls. Many stamens with a large stigmatic surface in the center.
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Snapdragon Vine (Maurandella antirrhiniflora)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Green vine growing along large rocks and interspersed with a small herb. Leaves are alternate with a sagitate base. Flowers are bilabiate with 2 uppper and 3 lower purple petals. White towards the inside, the majority of the petals are purple. Sepals are also long.
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Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Large shrub of the Rosaceae family. About 5 feet tall. Flowers have 5 free petals and many many stamens. Leaves are reduced in size, and appear to be fairly lobed. Fruits are long and thin, feathery-looking. Found on a path leading to a rocky valley, surrounded by other large shrubs, opuntia, and smaller herbs.
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Plains Fleabane (Erigeron modestus)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
The individual flowers are located throughout the pictures, interspersed with other flowers. Found in a low-lying grassland with a variety of flowering herbs and grasses. Asteraceae family. Inflorescence is about the size of a quarter. Ray florets have white petals and disk florets are yellow. Budding flowers are a pink color. Herb is about 1 foot tall with opposite leaves and is covered in trichomes.
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Woolly Plantain (Plantago patagonica)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Small herb, about 10 cm tall and 10 cm wide. Leaves are covered in hairs. Leaves are simple and long, emerging basally from the base of the herb. Flowers are very reduced, with 4 white, almost translucent petals. Arranged on a spike inflorescence.
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Mock Vervains (Genus Glandularia)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Large herb of the Verbenaceae family. Flowers form a head inflorescence with blue-purple flowers. Flowers have five petals and a salverform shape; also slightly bilabiate. Leaves appear to be ternate compound and deeply lobed. Found on a low shrubland leading up the mountain alongside a trail. Area is mostly creosote, yuccas were also numerous.
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New Mexico Rainbow Cactus (Echinocereus dasyacanthus ssp. dasyacanthus)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Young cactus found near a rock and under large grasses. About 20 cm tall and 15 cm diameter. Flower bud seems to be in early growth stages.
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Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Resurrection Plant of the Selaginellaceae family. (Spikemosses). Found growing out the rock on the side of a mountainous uplift. Recent rain has caused the leaves to be green although some of the tips are still brown. Appears to be two plants growing together.
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New Mexico Rainbow Cactus (Echinocereus dasyacanthus ssp. dasyacanthus)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
This cactus had 9 stems of various sizes growing in close proximity to each other. Many solitary flowers in bud, close to opening. Found on a rocky cliff with other cactus species nearby.
Photos / Sounds
Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Large herb of the Verbenaceae family. Flowers form a head inflorescence with blue-purple flowers. Floers have five petals and a salverform shape. Leaves appear to be ternate compound. Found growing along the Plains Fleabane Daisy at a grassland/shrubland surrounding an artificial spring.
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Pacific Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum ssp. tomentosum)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Hemiparasite of the Sandalwood Family. Found on a large thorny shrub (possibly Rhamnaceae?). Leaves are simply and opposite. Flowers are very reduced. Size is about 4 feet by 4 feet.
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Plains Fleabane (Erigeron modestus)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Asteraceae family. Inflorescence is about the size of a quarter. Ray florets have white petals and disk florets are yellow. Budding flowers are a pink color. Herb is about 1 foot tall with opposite leaves and is covered in trichomes.
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Tribe MalveaeObserver
sehuffmanDescription
Pale pink flower on ~1 foot tall herb. Light pink to white flowers. Radiate petals. Stamens monodelphous or fused basally. Many stamens. Petals slightly concave. Many stigma lobes. Opposite leaves with jagged margin and wrinkled. Covered in trichomes.
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Downy Desert-Thorn (Lycium puberulum)Observer
sehuffmanDescription
Large shrub with thorns about 2 cm long.Stems are a gray color. Compound round leaves emerging basally at each node. Flowers are synsepalous connate (5 petals) and a light green color. 5 stamens and a single style and stigma lobe. 5 green sepals. Leaves are covered in hairs and margins are entire. Located around an artificial spring with low shrubland/grassland.
