Phenology Field Note Parnassian larva, pussytoe seeds, and

Phenology Field Note
Parnassian larva, pussytoe seeds, and flowering bulbous bluegrass
May 13, 2015
Prairie Wolfe
Phenology locations
Boondocks
North Ridge
Floodplain
Restoration
Baldy
Native
Corral
North Center Pivot
Whaley
N
Wispy wind-blown achenes break free from a mat of low pussytoes (Antennaria dimorpha).
Rocky Mountain parnassians rely on stonecrop species as a larval food source (Parnassius
smintheus on Sedum lanceolatum).
Not always so rich in color, the pink phyllaries of rosy pussytoes help to key out this species
(Antennaria rosesa).
Insect damage and browse have a negative effect on seed production for many species.
Insects often target ripening seed for it’s high protein content, but in this instance some critter
girdled these two specimens while still in flower.
lanceleaf springbeauty
(Claytonia lanceolata)
Nuttall’s rockcress
(Arabis nuttallii)
Once flowers fade, individual plants may be difficult to see. I’ve added flags to smaller or
more camouflaged species to aid in surveys. Flags attract curious ungulates who found,
removed, and chewed on this flag shortly after being placed.
The small stature of Carex filifolia inflorescences permit them to hide among the delicate
leaves.
Small beetles swarm by the thousands on several of our mid to high elevation points (Native,
North Ridge, and Baldy). They take particular notice of arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza
sagittata).
Burgeoning fruits push forth from the fading purple petals of larkspur (Delphinium bicolor).
Not restricted to one hue, bluebell flowers change from mauve to blue to purple during
flowering (Mertensia oblongifolia). These color changes are common in flowering plants and
are attributed to changes in pH and various flavonoids within the epidermal cells (Stewart et
al. 1975).
Bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa) tends to reproduce through pseudovivipary. Pseudovivipary
is asexual reproduction that consists of small vegetative bulblets that can begin growing
while still attached to the parent (Elmquist and Cox, 1996). I recently came across a small
population exhibiting sexual outcrossing in a low elevation site (Restoration). Different day
lengths and temperatures can sometimes trigger flowering and and subsequent seed
production (Ofir and Kigel, 2014).
Works Cited:
Elmquist T, Cox PA. 1996. The evolution of vivipary in flowering plants. OIKOS 77: 3-9.
Ofir M, Kigel J. 2014. Temporal and intraclonal variation of flowering and pseudovivipary in
Poa bulbosa. Annals of Botany 113: 7.
Stewart RN, Norris, KH, Asen S. 1975. Microspectrophotometric measure of pH and pH
effect on color of petal epidermal cells. Phyotochemistry 14-4: 937-942