Montane Plants--Part 2

Centaurium venustum growing with dry grass in the Kern River Canyon of the southern Sierra, in a habitat that combines characteristics of foothills, mountains, and the desert.

Wyethia mollis, or mules ears, on the eastside of the northern Sierra.

Pedicularis densiflora, a kind of lousewort called Indian warrior, in the forests of the northern Sierra.

Caltha leptosepala, or marsh marigold, in a wet meadow north of Truckee.

Calyptridium umbellatum, or pussypaws, in the Sierra National Forest.

Fritillaria recurva, or scarlet fritillary, is found only occasionally. This one was growing near the Oro-Quincy Highway.

Hackelia nervosa, a kind of stickseed. There are a large variety of native butterflies and bees that depend on Sierra flowers for necter and pollen and many of them, especially the bees, are essential pollinators for the plants.

Dicentra uniflora, or steershead, often found right at the edge of melting snow patches. This one was in the Lakes Basin of the northern Sierra.