Observations by ahowald395

Steep north-facing slope just above Red Rock Cyn. Counted about 20 individuals in 0.2 mile area using binoculars. Checked several other areas in Benton Range with similar dark brown metamorphic substrate. Didn’t find more plants.

Whitmore Hot Springs area. Light gray alkaline soil. Pop of 100+ individuals, mostly dried. Area not grazed this year. Nearby plants include Ericameria nauseosa, Distichlis spicata, Juncus balticus. A few Aphyllon individuals growing up through old cow pats. An unidentified taxon related to A. parishii acc to Alison Colwell.

On what could be considered the very westernmost edge of the Bodie Hills, across Hwy 395 from Steve Matson’s original post of globose Lomatium fruits. In this area I found 3 individuals with subglobose fruits, along with typical Lomatium nevadense and a few Lomatium austiniae.

Growing on reddish volcanic substrate. Flower heads resemble var. purpureum, but small leaf size and brown leaf margins don't fit the published descriptions of purpureum. However, according to some, var. purpureum is the most variable of the ovalifolium varieties. Plants similar to these are found at other locations in the Bodie Hills, in the Wassuk Range, and in the Pine Grove Hills.

I found this on my deck, beneath coast live oak trees. First thought it might a gall, then a paper wasp nest, then used iNat to come up with this idea. It’s dry, very light weight, and rattles when you shake it. I learned that the Pomo Native Americans from here used these cocoons as rattles.

Usually flowering Nov to Jan along this section of coast. Fairly common in shallow drainage ways through Calamagrostis meadows on the lowermost coastal terrace. Leaves not present during flowering season. They appear again in Apr-May.

Dense colonies on the second coastal terrace in meadows; silty-sandy, poorly drained soils somewhat similar to those supporting pygmy forest further north. Forest on edges of Bishop pine, Douglas fir, and scattered small grand fir. Affinities to Toxicoscordion fremontii var minor, currently not recognized in TJM.

Gravel roadside in a residential area of Hilton Ck. I imagine the few Mono Co records are hitchhikers from So Cal, where this is quite common. Sorry I couldn’t get the tiny flowers perfectly in focus. Lessons needed.

Long Valley, on a low mound of light gray silt, probably old lakebed sediments. Keys to Phlox condensata but may be what Dr. Carolyn Ferguson is calling the Charleston Mtns-Bodie Hills phlox until the details are worked out. Habitat for this different from the high elevation open gravelly sites more typical of Phlox condensata. Unfortunately the Long Valley population may not be around for long since drought and livestock grazing seem to be taking a toll.