If it weren't for the neon yellow color, I'd have a hard time identifying this low-growing plant in the carrot family. Vern Yadon states, "Think of someone walking across a dark carpet with bleach on their shoes and you will visualize these chartreuse green flowers in a dark green field." I only spotted a few patches of footsteps during this hike. If my notes from past years are correct, they should last until about mid-March. This is the earliest I've seen them; of course, we've had an incredibly mild and warm January this year.
Showing posts with label footsteps of spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label footsteps of spring. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Saturday, March 14, 2009
footsteps of springSanicula arctopoides
Apiaceae
Aptly named! Neon yellow-green splotches in the bright-green grasses of spring alongside many trails. Interestingly, they're in the same family as carrots, anise, and hemlock.
By the time we went hiking out at Fort Ord again (from Inter-Garrison on March 28, not Creekside as shown here), most of the footsteps were fading and withering, replaced by a superficially similar, ground-hugging yellow flower, the coastal sun cup.
ps 01/27/11 - Cool! I can link to the entire month of March 2009 from my blog.
By the time we went hiking out at Fort Ord again (from Inter-Garrison on March 28, not Creekside as shown here), most of the footsteps were fading and withering, replaced by a superficially similar, ground-hugging yellow flower, the coastal sun cup.
ps 01/27/11 - Cool! I can link to the entire month of March 2009 from my blog.