Denver EcoFlora Project's Journal

Yucca glauca, or soapweed yucca, is a common plant in the foothills and plains. Although not currently in bloom, Yucca glauca is readily distinguished by long, narrow, and sharp-pointed evergreen leaves which are crowded into basal rosettes. Yucca glauca is the only native species of yucca in the greater metro area, also making it easy to identify. Yuccas are also used as ornamentals – they are drought tolerant and attractive additions to the landscape.

Soapweed yucca has many indigenous uses as well – the dried leaves of yucca can be made into rope, or woven into baskets and even sandals. And as the name implies, the roots can be crushed to produce a soapy juice that can be used as a shampoo or even treatment for minor skin irritations. Soapweed yucca is not to be confused with yucca or cassava root, commonly found in grocery stores and actually a different species altogether – Manihot esculenta.

Yuccas and yucca moths (Tegeticula sp.) are a classic example of a plant and animal symbiotic association, where each species requires the other to survive. Yucca flowers can only be pollinated by yucca moths, and yucca fruit is the only food source for larval yucca moths. Together, these species work in harmony to survive. It is currently too cold for yucca moths to be out, but be on the lookout for these tiny, white moths this summer.

See if you can locate soapweed yucca as you venture outside this winter and help Denver Botanic Gardens document its range by photographing as many plants as possible in the month of February. Post your findings to iNaturalist so they will automatically be added to the February 2021 EcoQuest as well as Denver EcoFlora Project.

Yucca glauca:

WHAT IS AN ECOQUEST?
EcoQuests, part of the Denver EcoFlora project, challenge citizens to become citizen scientists and observe, study, and conserve the native plants of the City via iNaturalist, an easy-to-use mobile app.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

1. Download the iNaturalist app or register online at iNaturalist.org
2. Take photos of the plants in bloom that you find on your daily neighborhood walk. It is ok if they are weeds! But avoid taking photos of cultivated plants in gardens or in your home.
3. If you are concerned about revealing the location of sensitive organisms or observations at your own house, you can hide the exact location from the public by changing the "geoprivacy" of the observation to "obscured."
4. Post your findings on iNaturalist via the app
5. Your observations will automatically be added to the Denver EcoFlora Project
6. You can add an identification to your photo when you post your findings on iNaturalist, or leave it blank for others to identify.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?
The EcoFlora project is designed to meaningfully connect citizens with biodiversity, and to assemble novel observations and data on the metro area’s flora to better inform policy decisions and conservation strategies.

Townsendia hookeri, or Easter daisy, is one of the first plants to bloom in the foothills. Like their common name suggests, you will typically begin seeing them bloom around Easter. Although the weather can be quite cold this time of year, Easter daisy is adapted to withstand freezing conditions and blankets of snow – these plants form low mounds close to the ground, a successful strategy that helps to maximize heat retention during colder periods.

As a member of the Compositae (Asteraceae), or aster family, these “flowers” are not all that they appear at first glance. Indeed, what looks like a single flower is actually a composite of many flowers arranged in an inflorescence called a head. Inside of this head, there are even two different types of flowers present – ray flowers, which are petal-like, on the outer periphery of the head, and disk flowers in the center. These heads are nested amongst a rosette of leaves, protecting them from potentially cold conditions.

Observations of Easter daisy blooming have already been recorded this year as early as January! Documenting the flowering period of species such as Easter daisy can ultimately aid our understanding of plant responses to a warming climate. By comparing observations, in combination with natural history collections dating back over 100 years, we can better understand how seasonal patterns are changing, and even make predictions for the future.

See if you can locate Easter daisy and help Denver Botanic Gardens document its flowering period by photographing as many plants as possible in the month of March. Post your findings to iNaturalist so they will automatically be added to the Denver EcoFlora Project.

Townsendia hookeri:

WHAT IS AN ECOQUEST?
EcoQuests, part of the Denver EcoFlora project, challenge citizens to become citizen scientists and observe, study, and conserve the native plants of the City via iNaturalist, an easy-to-use mobile app.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

1. Download the iNaturalist app or register online at iNaturalist.org
2. Take photos of the plants in bloom that you find on your daily neighborhood walk. It is ok if they are weeds! But avoid taking photos of cultivated plants in gardens or in your home.
3. If you are concerned about revealing the location of sensitive organisms or observations at your own house, you can hide the exact location from the public by changing the "geoprivacy" of the observation to "obscured."
4. Post your findings on iNaturalist via the app
5. Your observations will automatically be added to the Denver EcoFlora Project
6. You can add an identification to your photo when you post your findings on iNaturalist, or leave it blank for others to identify.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?
The EcoFlora project is designed to meaningfully connect citizens with biodiversity, and to assemble novel observations and data on the metro area’s flora to better inform policy decisions and conservation strategies.