Mojave Desert Plant Tour

Wish you could be outside? Using dehydrated sage limbs to walking-stick yourself up and down steep gradients with cream colored gypsum tumbling out of natural dunes? In case you have a day job and are not a gazillionaire, I bring you a small assortment of plants in bloom who spiced up my recent few weeks in the Mojave Desert. Helpfully, a fellow biologist shared his desert wisdom with me, who brings it to you. In fact, he shared so much wonderful insight over our work breaks that I asked his permission and blessing to share his IDs beside my photos for ya'll to explore where you are.

Enjoy! While you are enjoying, please check out Aaron's incredible conservation biology consulting business HERE.

Camissonia claviformis

That's what used to be in Camissonia genus an now is in Chylisma genus. It's in the Onagraceae family with things like fireweed and primroses. That one may be Camissonia claviformis, which is called brown eyed primrose, but I'm not 100% certain. Would have to key it out, I think, to be certain.

Erisastrum

Cool, it's an Erisastrum. There are a few species in desert but probably E. eremicium. Common name is woollystar. In the phlox family.

Mormon tea

It's Mormon tea. In the Ephedra genus, where the drug ephedrine comes from. Or used to at least. I think that one is Ephedra nevadensis because it looks like it has two seeds per node. There are a couple of other species here too.

I quickly followed up with a tongue-in-cheek quip about the myth of Mormons arriving in Utah and making tea from a ditch plant which then got everyone super high and thus they were delivered a medicine from the divine. Aaron replied not knowing that story (likely a wive's tale), adding that the plant in that story could also be Jimson Weed, if the people got blazed. Ephedra tea is reportedly very mild, the good stuff being in Asian Ephedra species.

Amsinckia tessellata

Devil's lettuce. It's in Borage family and has all those tiny hairs like fiberglass that get stuck in our legs when it dries.

And they do, I can attest, stick into our flesh as we trod through the desert.

Chylisma claviformis

Nothing besides the ID for this fella'

Desert Mariposa Lily

Desert Mariposa lily, Calochortus Kennedy. The bulbs are edible, was important food for indigenous people.

Desert Calico

Loeseliastrum mathewsii. It's another phlox family plant like the Eriastrum.

Thank you for reading!