April 20, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

An Adder in the Understory

Target Species: Green Adder’s Mouth (Malaxis unifolia)

Green Adder’s Mouth

The Green Adder’s Mouth is a peculiar orchid of the Eastern United States that reaches its southwestern limit in the Pineywoods of East Texas. I saw and photographed this species a few years ago, however it was when they were first emerging from the leaf litter and were not yet in bloom. I have since wanted to photograph them in full bloom.

Last year a friend told me about a population less than an hour from my house. This year I visited the site in hopes of catching them at peak bloom. The Green Adder’s Mouth tends to be found on gentle moist slopes adjacent to streams, seeps, and wetland margins. This particular population is adjacent to a wetland swale deep in a pine-hardwood upland. The site delivered as promised, and we observed hundreds of individuals in bloom scattered along the gentle slope grading into the wet depression. We even found a few scattered among the adjacent uplands.

Green Adder’s Mouth

The specific epithet unifolia is in reference to the single leaf that emerges from the leaf litter in later March/Early April. The leaf emerges with with a developing cluster of flower buds. As the plant grows the buds begin to spread out and unfurl, revealing the tiny, intricate blooms that lend the plant it’s common name. Adder’s Mouth is in reference to the pronged lip (lower petal), which is said to appear the fangs of an adder. The detail of individuals blooms is best appreciated from above, as in the shots that follow.

Though the plants may eventually reach heights of a foot or more, it’s tiny cryptic flowers and generic leaf make it a real challenge to spot. As Joe Liggio speculates in his book The Wild Orchids of Texas, it may indeed be more common than we currently suspect.

Green Adder’s Mouth

There was little blooming near the orchids, with the exception of the beautiful White Milkweed (Asclepias variegata). This is one of the earliest milkweeds to bloom in East Texas. The red band below the flowers’ hoods lends it the alternative common name “Redring Milkweed”

White Milkweed

Milkweed blooms are highly popular with pollinators. Just about every plant had a myriad of flies, bees, and beetles.

Trichiotinus lunulatus

Zebra Longhorn Beetle (Typocerus zebra)

It felt good to finally get the photos I have long wanted of the Green Adder’s Mouth, but just as rewarding was exploring an unfamiliar area of the Pineywoods. I can only hope that my pursuit of my 2017 biodiversity goals will continue to take me to new, exciting (at least to me!) places.

April 20, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

The Other State Flower

Target Species: Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis)

Blue Lupine

In keeping with the theme of “everything is bigger in Texas”, the Texas Legislature decided in 1971 that the original state flower, Lupinus subcarnosus, which was designated in 1901, simply wasn’t enough. Instead the Lonestar State decided that we would call any member of the genus Lupinus occurring within the state to be our official state flower. This would include the rare Blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis), even though it only occurred at a handful of sites in extreme southeastern Texas.

Known by other regional common names like Wild Lupine and Sundial Lupine, Lupinus perennis was first discovered in the 1930s in Orange County but subsequently disappeared from the county. In the 1970s it was rediscovered by premier East Texas botanist and conservation pioneer Geraldine Watson in the Big Thicket National Preserve.

Blue Lupine

Geraldine Watson was one of the most important, influential individuals in protecting the Big Thicket. She spent much of her life fighting to protect this unique area and documenting the flora of East Texas. Finding Blue Lupine after it was thought to be lost is just one of a long list of exceptional accomplishments attributed to her name.

Blue Lupine prefers open, sandy forests and savannahs. It has a curious distribution, occuring in Eastern North America, it ranges from eastern Minnesota in the west to the east along the Great Lakes into New England, then south and west again along the coastal plain until it reaches Deep East Texas. It is noticeably absent from the southern Appalachians and most of the South Central states. Lupinus perennis has been experiencing significant declines throughout its range. It has been extirpated in Maine, and has been declared as Threatened or Endangered in many of the states where it occurs. In many of the others where it is not listed, such as Texas, it probably should be.

County-level distribution of Lupinus perennis from http://www.bonap.org.

I had previously seen and photographed Lupinus perennis in Maryland, where it is also rare. It has long been a dream of mine to see it in East Texas. I researched Geraldine Watson’s herbarium specimens, and though the location information was rather vague I used it to look at aerial imagery and soil maps to determine where I thought they likely occurred. I contacted the state botanist as a backup, and the area he described was right in the vicinity of the spot I had identified. Carolina and I set out with some friends, and after an adventure of a trek through sketchy, flooded backroads, we finally found our quarry.

Blue Lupine

Blue Lupine is a spectacular plant. Much more robust than the more familiar Texas Bluebonnets, its raceme (flowering body) may be close to a foot long. The upper petals start out with white centers that turn purple with age. It is believed that the turn occurs after the flower has been pollinated. As bees, the primary pollinator for lupines, will more likely visit the fresher, whiter blooms to receive a greater pollen reward.

Blue Lupine

In my humble opinion, Blue Lupine is one of the most spectacular plants of the Big Thicket. It is a shame they aren’t more common, but seeing them at peak bloom in East Texas is an experience I will never forget.

April 19, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

A Tribute to an Ice Age Relic

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper

Recently I made the annual trip to see what may be my favorite plant – the Kentucky Lady Slipper (Cypripedium kentuckiense). This year I was joined by my friends John Williams, Skip Pudney, and Terry Hibbitts, who were anxious for the chance to see and photograph the slippers.

The Kentucky Lady’s Slipper finds refuge deep in the cool, moist ravines of the Pineywoods. Here the sunlight barely penetrates the canopy, and in April, if the conditions are just right, its curled petals and broad sepals will unfurl, revealing the cream yellow slipper to the world.

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper

Today this spectacular orchid is rare throughout its range, hanging on as scattered populations from Virginia to East Texas. It occurs in the dwindling southern hardwood forests that remain as relicts from the last ice age. Here tends to be found adjacent to small, often springfed streams on small benches or the lower terraces of steep slopes.

As the glaciers began their retreat rich hardwood forests with beech, maple, hickory, and oak were likely the dominant cover type in the southern United States. As the glaciers receded and the climate warmed and dried, dominant species like American beech were pushed to these ravines where they remain as relicts – reminders of the forests that once were. They are accompanied by a suite of other species typical of northern and Appalachian hardwood forests. The Kentucky lady’s slipper is perhaps the most charismatic example of relictual flora in East Texas.

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper in habitat (shot in 2016)

Cypripedium kentuckiense is huge by orchid standards. The plants may reach close to a meter tall, and the slipper, which is really a modified petal may be the size of a chicken egg. This orchid is a bit of a trickster, as it lures bees, fully expecting a sweet nectar reward, into the lip. The bees find no reward inside though, as the orchid does not produce the sugary substance that the pollinators depend on. It is unlikely that many bees will make the mistake of returning to a lady slipper bloom after this initial disappointment. Therefore it is believed that the orchids are pollinated primarily by inexperienced individuals.

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper in habitat (shot in 2016)

The Kentucky Lady’s Slipper truly is one of the most striking inhabitants of the Pineywoods, and for my money one of the most beautiful plants in the country. Populations continue to decline, however, as these sensitive species succumb to a myriad of pressures from habitat destruction, climate change, increasing isolation of populations which creates a barrier for gene flow, and more. Fortunately many of the remaining Cypripedium kentuckiense populations in East Texas are protected, at least for the moment. So at least for now, these botanical treasures will continue to brighten our rich mesic slopes each spring.

Kentucky Lady’s Slipper in habitat (shot in 2014)

April 17, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

The Flora of Weches Glades

Target Species: Widow’s Cross (Sedum pulchellum)

Widow’s Cross

Weches Glades are unique communities in the Pineywoods that occur where the underlying Weches Formation reaches the surface. Here lie exposed iron rocks and soil that are rich in glauconite, a greenish mineral composed primarily of iron and potassium. Weches Glades occur in a narrow band stretching across Nacogdoches, San Augustine, and Sabine counties and are home to a unique flora, including species that are found nowhere else on the planet.

The coarse soil of the Weches Glades are often saturated in the spring and summer, occasionally forming shallow pools in small depressions in bare rock. The heat and sweltering sun of summer quickly evaporates these pools, and leaves the soil dry and brittle. In the spring the boulders at some of the few remnant glades turn light pink, awash with the blooms of the Widow’s Cross (Sedum pulchellum).

Widow’s Cross is a species of the South-Central states, from extreme Northeast Georgia, Tennesse, and Kentucky in the east to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas in the west. It is generally limited to glades and outcrops, communities where little else can grow. It thrives under shallow, harsh soil conditions. As these communities are often limited across the landscape, Sedum pulchellum is generally uncommon to rare throughout its range. In Texas it occurs in just a handful of counties in the northern and central portions of the state. In the Pineywoods it is limited to Sabine and San Augustine Counties.

Widow’s Cross

Widow’s Cross owes much of its success in these environments to its succulent leaves, which can quickly absorb and store water from fall and winter rains in order to put on a spectacular spring show. It’s easy to see how the plant gets its name. It’s actually named for the cross like shape of the four-petaled flowers, however the inflorescence also often forms in the shape of a cross.

Widow’s Cross

Though Weches Glades were likely always infrequent and highly localized, a great deal have been lost to glauconite mining. This mineral which seems critical for some species has long been used for soil enhancement and road filler. As result small scale surface mining operations have destroyed many of these unique communities. The vast majority of those that remain are on private land and site unprotected to this day.

Widow’s Cross

While I had previously photographed this species, I captured it on the tail end of its blooming cycle and the plants were past their prime. This year I aimed to capture them at their peak. While they generally bear 3 or 4-pronged racemes, I found some with 5 prongs.

Widow’s Cross

Weches Glades are also home to 2 endemic, Federally Endangered plants: The Texas Golden Gladecress (Leavenworthia texana) and the White Bladderpod (Lesquerella pallida). Leavenworthia texana is endemic to Sabine and San Augustine Counties. Here it occurs almost entirely on private land. These diminutive plants bloom in early spring, ad by the time Widow’s Cross blooms they have already dispersed their seeds. I photographed the individuals below in mid-February. In the second photo the developing stems of Sedum pulchellum can be seen.

Texas Golden Gladecress

The White Bladderpod is restricted to a handful of Weches Glades in San Augustine County. It is named for its spherical seed pods, which can be seen adjacent to the blooms on the photo below. It was in full bloom at the same time as the Widow’s Cross. Curiously, the bladderpod and gladecress generally don’t occur at the same outcrops.

White Bladderpod

White Bladderpot

While photographing the flora of the Weches Glades, one will immediately note the strong smell of mint that fills the air. This is a result of dense populations of the Limestone Calamint (Clinopodium arkansanum).

Limestone Calamint

There are many other interesting species that can be found blooming in Weches Glades. I leave you with a few of them.

Comanche Daisy (Astranthium ciliatum)

Drummond’s Stitchwort (Minuartia drummondii)

Pitcher’s Stitchwort (Minuartia patula)

April 12, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

Two For One at a Sandstone Outcrop

Target Species: Missouri Foxtail Cactus (Escobaria missouriensis) and Nuttall’s Death Camas (Toxicoscordion nuttallii)

Missouri Foxtail Cactus

Grimes County sits in an interesting area of Texas, especially for a naturalist. Here three ecoregions (as defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife) converge: the Pineywoods, the Post Oak Savannah, and the Blackland Prairies. As one might expect, it is not an abrupt and sudden change from one ecoregion to the next, so what results are certain areas that display characteristics of all three areas. It certainly makes for an interesting plant community.

In western Grimes County a series of sandstone outcrops of the Oakville formation reach the surface. These create a stark contrast to the surrounding landscape, resulting in rocky hillsides that exhibit a unique flora. It was on these remarkable outcrops that I pursued my quarry.

The Missouri Foxtail Cactus (Escobaria missouriensis) is a widespread cactus occurring primarily in the Great Plains and portions of the Intermountain West. It is a cold-hardy species, reaching as far north as northern Montana and North Dakota. In Texas it occurs primarily along the eastern edge of the Edward’s Plateau, and outcrops and barrens in the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairies. On the sandstone outcrops we found them clinging to exposed rocks, and in areas of sandstone and shallow stand over the underlying bedrock.

Missouri Foxtail Cactus

The stems of E. missouriensis are small, inconspicuous, and difficult to see for most of the year. They sit barely 2 inches above ground level, and in times of drought, moisture loss may pull them down to be nearly flush with the ground. The plants remain nearly invisible for most of the year until in the late spring their brilliant blooms betray their presence.

Missouri Foxtail Cactus

The flowers are generally pale yellow and display various tinging of pinks, greens, and tans. The flowers tend to open in the early afternoon and close at night. When we arrived at the first outcrop at around 1 pm, the flowers were still tightly closed, but within an hour most were wide open. The fruits ripen overwinter, and turn bright red in the spring. Though we did not observe it, I have read that it is common to find flowering plants with fruit still attached. Under optimal conditions the flowers may last a few days.

Missouri Foxtail Cactus

Escobaria missouriensis was formerly included in the genus Coryphantha. Subtle differences in the seeds, flowers, and tubercles are used to differentiate the genera.

Missouri Foxtail Cactus

During our visits we saw groupings of various sizes, from single stems to pairs, to clumps of ten or so. The day provided a wealth of photographic opportunities, and I delighted in moving from cactus to cactus to capture their likeness.

Missouri Foxtail Cactus

While exploring the most extensive outcrop I came across the fruits of another species on my 2017 list. I actually saw a large population of Nuttall’s Death Camas (Toxicoscordion nuttallii) in March in the Pineywoods about 30 minutes from my house. Unfortunately it was behind a fence in a pasture. I tried to find and contact the landowners but had no luck, and was concerned that I might not get the chance to check this one off my list. My heart admittedly sank a bit when all of the plants on the sandstone outcrop were in fruit, and appeared to have flowered weeks ago. Then, in the shade of a Post Oak I found a single plant in bloom.

Nuttall’s Death Camas is primarily a plant of the south-central plains, occuring from Kansas to Arkansas to central Texas. It is named for its poisonous bulb, which is said to be highly toxic to mammals.

Nuttall’s Death Camas

There was also a wealth of other interesting plant species on the outcrops. We observed Lesquerella gracilis, Calylophus berlandieri, Linum berlandieri, Chaetopappa asteroides, Marshallia caespitosa, Krameria lanceolata, Echinacea atrorubens, and more in bloom. Unfortunately heavy winds made photographing them a real challenge. Fortunately I was able to capture some acceptable images of White Milkwort (Polygala alba), Prairie Penstemon (Penstemon cobaea), and Reverchon’s False Pennyroyal (Hedeoma reverchonii). The latter is restricted to central Texas and a handful of sites in Oklahoma and Arkansas.

White Milkwort

Prairie Penstemon

Reverchon’s False Pennyroyal

There is something really special about exploring unique habitats like this. Sites that were probably never common on the landscape. I look forward to returning to this outcrop in the future to see what other treasures may bloom throughout the year.

April 11, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

March Recap

Due to a combination of changed plans and other factors, March was not as productive in terms of 2017 biodiversity goal species as I was expecting. I was able to check off three species:

Yellowroot (Xanthorhiza simplicissima)

Blue Curls (Phacelia congesta)

Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus)

I spent most of the month of March exploring outside my home turf of the Pineywoods. From the South Texas Plains to the Edward’s Plateau, I observed an incredible diversity of habitats and species, which are highlighted in previous blog posts. I did however get to spend some time in the field around here. To follow are some of March’s highlights from East Texas.

This year has been good for Luna Moths (Actias luna). I observed several freshly emerged males. Males utilize their feathery antennae to pick up subtle pheromone cues from females and may fly miles to find a mate. Adult Luna Moths lack feeding mouth parts, and live on average about a week. As adults they really are driven by a singular purpose: to breed.

Luna Moth

March is a great time to enjoy flowering trees and shrubs in East Texas. This year most species put on a decent show. The Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) seemed to peak in late February, however several were still in flower in early March.

Eastern Redbud

Among my favorite spring displays is that of the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). This small tree ranges throughout much of the eastern United States. To me it is one of the emblematic spring blooms of East Texas. Christian accounts claim that Jesus was crucified on the wood of a dogwood tree. Story goes that they were once tall, stately trees that Jesus, following his crucifixion, morphed to their current gnarled form – presumably so no others could ever again be crucified upon their wood. Their “flowers” now appear as crosses each spring around Easter.

In reality the white “flowers” are modified leaves called bracts. The flowers are the yellow structures at the bracts’ centers. In the late summer the tree will bear red fruits that are cherished by wild turkeys. I also think that their growth form only lends beauty to this already stunning species.

Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood in the understory of a longleaf pine savannah

The Fringetrees (Chionanthus virginicus) seem to hit their peak as the dogwoods are beginning to fade. Their wispy, whitish green blooms light up the forest edge and the understory in open woods.

Fringetree

Dangling like little snowdrops are the blooms of the Two-winged Silverbell (Halesia diptera). These attractive little trees are often found along streams and in moist stream bottoms.

Two-winged Silverbell

Azaleas are a favorite of gardeners and nature lovers alike. In East Texas the Hoary Azalea (Rhododendron canescens) reaches the southwestern extent of its range.

Hoary Azalea

I couldn’t resist photographing a particularly large Sabine River Wakerobin (Trillium gracile). This lovely trillium is endemic to rich forests in the Pineywoods of East Texas and western Louisiana.

Sabine River Wakerobin

Another springtime favorite of mine is the Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum). This characteristic spring ephemeral of eastern forests can form large colonies in East Texas, often carpeting the forest floor. The fluffy white blooms hang below the large umbrella like leaves. Occasionally, as pictured below, the flowers may have a pink tinge to them.

Mayapple

Though I photographed a few in February, I couldn’t resist stopping to photograph some roadside populations of Birdfoot Violets (Viola pedata) in early March.

Birdfoot Violets

Birdfoot Violet

Also common along roadways and dry, open woods is the Plains Wild Indigo (Baptisia bracteata).

Plains Wild Indigo

I photographed this Yellow Star-Grass (Hypoxis hirsuta) with fresh morning dew still clinging to the bloom.

Yellow Star-Grass

Another characteristically eastern forb that reaches its southwestern extent in East Texas is the Lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis). Most of the flowers in Texas are yellow, however I have occasionally observed them with hints of maroon. Lousewort is reported to provide a plethora of medical uses. It’s roots have long been used to brew a tea that helps treat digestive and stomach problems and ulcers. Its leaves can also reportedly be ground into a poultice that helps alleviate swelling, muscle pain, and several skin conditions. Drinking its leaves in a tea is said to sooth sore throats, coughs, and headaches. It is also said to act as a powerful aphrodisiac.

Lousewort

The beautiful Big Thicket Phlox (Phlox pulcherrima) is endemic to the forests of East Texas. Like so many other species in this area of significant habitat modification by man, it is now most common along roadsides.

Big Thicket Phlox

The Nodding Penstemon (Penstemon laxiflorus) is also common along roadsides. It is so common that I never gave it much thought as a photographic subject, however this native has truly unique, beautiful flowers when viewed up close.

Nodding Penstemon

During March I also made a few visits to the Big Thicket to check on a species that I checked off my list in February: The Federally Endangered Texas Trailing Phlox (Phlox nivalis ssp. texensis). The plants were looking healthy and were still blooming mid-March.

Texas Trailing Phlox

Growing near the phlox I saw several Dollarleafs (Rhynchosia reniformis), a species of the coastal plain of the southeastern United States.

I’ll close out this March recap with a beautiful scene from a longleaf pine savannah near one of the few known locations of Texas Trailing Phlox. Here Rose Mock Vervain (Glandularia canadensis) thrives following a fire. These showy blooms are a testament to fire’s ability to maintain and vitalize certain vegetative communities.

With March of 2017 behind us, it’s time to move into April, where I hope to really start get going on my 2017 list of biodiversity goals.

April 6, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

Spring in the Hill Country

Giant Spiderwort on a granite outcrop

Three springs ago I was lucky enough to marry the love of my life. Before and since Carolina and I have shared many adventures in the natural world. It seemed fitting that we spend our anniversary in these wild places we love so much, so we decided to take a trip to the Texas Hill Country. It had been years since I spent any time exploring this treasure trove of natural wonders, and Carolina had only previously passed through. We looked forward to a trip full of searching for rocks, gems, wildflowers, and other wild things.

The rugged Texas Hill Country is part of the Edward’s Plateau, an extensive uplift in central Texas comprised of marine deposit that are 100 million years old or more. The region is primarily comprised of limestone, however extensive granite outcrops are present in areas. The variety of substrates harbors an incredible array of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Perhaps no other part of the state is as uniquely Texan as the Hill Country. The following blog post is a long one that highlights its natural beauty.

Spring in the Texas Hill Country

We covered a lot of ground during our trip, trying to see as much as we possibly could. Recent rains had swollen the clear streams of the region. While hiking we came across this tributary of the Colorado River, which I suspect is normally fairly tame. We enjoyed a swim in the cool, clear waters below the fall.

A Hill Country Waterfall

The wild’s of the Hill Country are full of beautiful sights, like this gnarled live oak growing from the top of a massive granite boulder.

A gnarled live oak takes hold on a granite outcrop

The Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is certainly the most iconic of all Texas wildflowers. While I can’t deny their beauty, I am usually reluctant to photograph bluebonnets, as they have been so extensively planted that it’s hard to know when one has encountered a truly wild population. I found this large population in a clearing in an open oak/mesquite savannah far from any roads or developed areas, and am fairly certain it is a native population.

Texas Bluebonnets

We were lucky that a number of cacti had begun to bloom during our trip. I posted about the Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus) in my previous blog. I also mentioned the Lace Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii). The latter deserves mention again here, as we found many in bloom while we were driving back roads in pursuit of Topaz and Celestite. While we did not find the precious stones, we were rewarded with the brilliant blooms of this spectacular cactus. The largest, most impressive individuals and groups were on private land well behind fences, however we did find several beautiful individuals within camera range.

A Lace Cactus clings to a granite outcrop

Lace Cactus

We also found a few Heyder’s Pincushion Cactuses (Mammillaria heyderi), which I had recently photographed in South Texas.

Heyder’s Pincushion Cactus

Perhaps one of the most spectacular wildflower displays came from the Giant Spiderwort (Tradescantia gigantea) which seemed to thrive on granite and limestone alike.

Giant Spiderwort

We observed a number of Penstemon species. The most common and widespread was the Prairie Penstemon (Penstemon cobaea). It was a treat to see such large, healthy populations of this species, as it is rare in the Pineywoods.

Prairie Penstemon

We even found a few Prairie Penstemons with a striking lavender wash.

Prairie Penstemon

We also found the much less common Guadalupe Penstemon, which is endemic to the Texas Hill Country.

Guadalupe Penstemon

County level distribution for Penstemon guadalupensis from http://www.bonap.org. Yellow counties indicate that the species is present but rare.

The most spectacular of the Penstemons, however, was the Hill Country Penstemon (Penstemon triflorus), another Edward’s Plateau endemic.

Hill Country Penstemon

County-level distribution for Penstemon triflorus from http://www.bonap.org.

The Fringed Bluestar (Amsonia ciliata) was fairly difficult to spot among the grasslands and oak savannahs, despite its bright blue blooms.

Fringed Bluestar

The Green Milkweed Vine (Matelea reticulata) is native to Texas and northeastern Mexico. It is easy to see where it gets one of its alternate common names: The Pearl Milkweed Vine.

Green Milkweed Vine

After spending a couple of nights camping we visited our good friends Scott Wahlberg and Ashley Tubbs in Kerrville. Scott and I are known for our absurd conversations and hypothetical scenarios. We are lucky that we have such tolerant women to put up with our shenanigans. After spending the night at their place, they showed us a beautiful series of canyons that had eroded into the limestone hills. The Endangered Golden-Cheeked Warbler (Setophaga chrysoparia) serenaded us as we explored its domain.

In addition to being rich in endemics, the Texas Hill Country is home to many species typical of the central or Eastern United States that are disjunct from the main portion of their range. These species generally exist in these cool, moist canyons and are relicts of cooler, wetter times. Scott has found Western Slimy Salamanders (Plethodon albagula) here. Luckily I had seen them in the Hill Country before, as we were unable to find any this trip. We did, however, see several Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) in bloom.

Eastern Red Columbine

We observed several False Day Flowers (Tinantia anomala) in bloom. These bizarre blooms reminded me of some alien creature.

False Day Flower

We also found another uncommon endemic growing in these canyons: The Scarlet Clematis (Clematis texensis).

Scarlet Clematis

County-level distribution for Clematis texensis. Yellow counties indicate that the species is present but rare.

The Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) is a typical tree of the slopes grading into these canyons. We were lucky to find a few in bloom.

Texas Madrone

With all of the wildflowers in bloom, the pollinators were out in force as well. Perhaps the most beautiful, and definitely the most cooperative were the many Juniper Hairstreaks (Callophrys gryneus) that we observed.

Juniper Hairstreak

As is so often the case for me, as the trip came to an end I was hit with a feeling of sadness. But it’s hard to be too sad when I was returning to the Pineywoods, where so many interesting species were awaiting me.

April 4, 2017 by mattbuckinghamphotography

Seeking the Claret Cup

Target Species: Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus)

Claret Cup Cactus and Fairy Swords

The Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus coccineus) is one of the few species on my list that Carolina really wanted to see. Though she almost always accompanies me on my adventures into the natural world, and her eagle sharp vision usually spots my targets before I do, she is usually just following my lead. Ironically, I was far more successful at spotting the bright scarlet blooms of this cactus than she was – a significant divergence from the norm.

Also known as the Scarlet Hedgehog Cactus, Echinocereus coccineus is a species of the desert southwest that reaches the eastern edge of its range in the Edward’s Plateau of central Texas. Carolina and I were thinking about a quick getaway for our Anniversary, and settled on this beautiful region. We camped at some of the many state parks in the area, and spent our Anniversary rock hounding and plant hunting.

Claret Cup Cactus Flower Detail

I first saw this species over a decade ago when backpacking in the Hill Country. It was in bloom among the limestone bluffs northwest of San Antonio. I had an early point-and-shoot camera with me at the time, and did capture some photos, however I have since wanted to return with my current knowledge and photographic skill set.

A Claret Cup Cactus takes root in a crevice in a large granite outcrop.

This time we found them blooming among crevices and at the base of large rocks in extensive granite outcrops. While many species show preference for either limestone or granite, the Claret Cup seems able to thrive in both. The cacti were often forced to share their preferred growing sites with other plant species seeking a refuge from the inhospitable conditions on the exposed granite. Most notably was the arid country fern known as Fairy Swords (Cheilanthes lindheimeri).

The flowers of Echinocereus coccineus are unique for a couple of reasons. Unlike most other members of the genus Echinocereus, whose flowers close at night and reopen in the morning, the flowers of E. coccineus apparently remain open 24-hours a day, lasting a few days. And while most cacti are pollinated by insects, the Claret Cup is primarily pollinated by hummingbirds.

Claret Cup Cactus and Fairy Swords

One day I would like to photograph the Claret Cup in the high Chisos of Big Bend National Park, however for now I was thrilled to have the chance to capture them near the eastern edge of their range. It was a truly incredible thing to see them growing from what little soil was able to develop among a seemingly endless sea of granite.

Claret Cup Cactus

There were other cacti among the granite as well. I had really hoped to see a Lace Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) in bloom. After a few days of finding lots of plants and no blooms, we finally found a few blooms, some within a stone’s throw of the Claret Cups. Looking at the spines of Lace Cactus, it is easy to see how it earned its name.

Lace Cactus

Fairy Swords were abundant, seemingly envigorated by recent rains. The combination of the gray-green ferns and lichen stained boulders was truly beautiful.

Fairy Swords

In deeper depressions within the granite outcrops where debris was able to collect and deeper soils could form species such as Texas Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa) and Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) were able to take hold and thrive. While both species are exceedingly abundant, and often planted along roadways throughout much of the state, it was a thrill to see them growing in their natural habitat.

Texas Paintbrush and Texas Bluebonnets

Texas Bluebonnets

Another common species of the granite outcrops that was also found growing alongside the Claret Cup Cactus was the Giant Spiderwort (Tradescantia gigantea). This species really lived up to its name, reaching heights of nearly 3 feet. This species occurs primarily in the Texas Hill Country, with a few disjunct populations in northeast Texas and parts of Louisiana.

Giant Spiderwort

Giant Spiderwort with Claret Cup Cactus in the background

There was more than plants among the outcrops. We saw many animals including Rock Squirrels (Spermophilus variegatus), Crevice Spiny Lizards (Sceloporus poinsettii), and a Texas Patchnose Snake (Salvadora grahamiae), but as is often the case, I was unable to capture any of these on film. The scenery alone was worth the trip, however. There is something magical about these granite monoliths and the flora and fauna that eke out a living around them. As night fell we laid on flat slab of granite, still warm from the day’s sun, and looked up at the brilliant stars. We pondered life’s questions, big and small, and reveled in the magic of the Texas Hill Country.

Hill Country Magic

A Naturalist's Journey

My Quest for Biodiversity

Month: April 2017

An Adder in the Understory

The Other State Flower

A Tribute to an Ice Age Relic

The Flora of Weches Glades

Two For One at a Sandstone Outcrop

March Recap

Spring in the Hill Country

Seeking the Claret Cup