California Wildflowers: Desert 5-spot

I had just read of these flowers; the book said they were rare. When I saw this one in Wildrose Canyon I photographed it even with the morning-closed flower, thinking I'd never see another. . .

I drove home north through Panamint Valley. At first I didn't believe what I saw along the road but finally had to stop. The shoulder was covered with desert 5-spot! Step out of the car and there they are, gift of the Highway Rainwater Collection Service. These plants being 1000 feet lower and in the middle of the valley were farther along in their life cycle, but still attractive to busy pollenators who barely fit inside the flowers.

California Wildflowers Desert 5-spot close-up Pavilion of Nature and History Human Touch Museum Visit the California Native Plant Society Web site

All contents copyright 1999 by Larry Nelson lord_chaos@compuserve.com

des5sptb.htm 1999 November 5