Rainbow Canyon 1 (2012)
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Mason Valley & Rainbow Canyon
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park   © W.P. Armstrong 3 February 2012
Images Taken With Sony DSC-T9 and Sony DSC-HX9v

Mason Valley cholla (Cylindropuntia fosbergii).

Agave deserti var. deserti and the entrance to Rainbow Canyon.

Minute Wildflowers In The Sand
Note: Perfectly exposed penny superimposed over original penny in sand.

Pale yellow suncup (Camissonia pallida ssp. pallida).

Purple mat (Nama demissum var. demissum).

Wild Canturbury-Bell (Phacelia minor)

  See Desert Blue-Bells (Phacelia campanularia ssp. campanularia & vasiformis)  

Cooper's Box-Thorn (Lycium cooperi)

San Felipe Dogweed (Adenophyllum porophylliodes)

Arizona Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys arizonicus)

Red dye on Mike's fingers after fondling the basal stem & leaves of Arizona Popcorn flower.

Alkannin: A Naphthoquinone from species in the Boraginaceae, incl. Plagiobothrys & Alkanna.

I once told my students that cryptanthas are more densely covered in hairs than Plagiobothrys, but that statement doesn't necessarily hold true. Stems and leaves of Plagiobothrys nothovulvus and our local P. arizonicus contain a reddish dye that rubs off on your fingers; however, our common desert annual Cryptantha micrantha (purple-rooted forget-me-not) also gives off this reddish dye. Several members of the Boraginaceae are known for this deep red phenolic dye called alkannin (also spelled alkanet), including dyer's bugloss (Alkanna tinctoria). It was used to dye textiles, and as a coloring for vegetable oils, medicines and wine, and is commonly used today as a food coloring. In addition, it reportedly has wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The term "bugloss" applies to several species in the Boraginaceae with blue flowers and hairy foliage. It is derived from a Greek word meaning ox-tongue in reference to the rough, hairy leaves.

  See Wayne's Word Page On Popcorn Flowers  

New Mexico Ditaxis (Ditaxis neomexicana)

Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata)

Ground Cherry (Physalis crassifolia)

Undisputed Female Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum)
Nikon D-90 with 60mm Micro Nikkor AF-S F/2.8G ED Macro Lens & Phoenix Ring Flash

Female desert mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum) bearing mature pistillate flowers with red stigmas.

Female desert mistletoe taken with Bausch & Lomb dissecting microscope & Sony W-300.

  More Images Of Phoradendron californicum  

Hiking Into Rainbow Canyon

Steep walls of metamorphosed, banded (gneissic) rock.

California Juniper (Juniperus californica)

Coblestone Lichen (Acarospora)

Thallus is areolate and without distinct marginal lobation of Pleopsidium flavum. It may be Acarospora.

Beady Lipfern (Cheilanthes covillei)

Nevada Rock-Cress (Boechera perennans)

Metamorphosed, banded (gneissic) rock polished by centuries of rushing water.

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