Week 3 Utah Flora Field Notes

Question 1

Sphaeralcea parvifolia - Malvaceae Family (Mallow)
- Orange petals, yellow center, looks a little like tomato leaves/stems, cotton family, perennial
- 5 petals (separate/free), radial symmetry, little dots/hairs on the leaves, star shaped hairs (not common on other plants), Stipules (outgrowths at the base of the leaves), 3 veins at the base of the leaf (fam. charc.), cupped flowers

Answer 1

Small-leaved Globe Mallow

Question 2

Sisymbrium irio - Brassicaceae/Cruciferae Family (Mustard)
- 4 petals (free), x shape, cross bearing
- 6 stamen (4 long and 2 short), triangular leaves, herbaceous (youngest to most mature from top to bottom with the fruits going down the stalk) (mustard charc.)

Answer 2

London Rocket

Question 3

Prunus fasciculata - Rosaceae Family (Rose)
- Typical desert shrub, tiny leaves and dense branching, lighter green, radial symmetry
- At least 5 stamens, floral cup at base (hypanthium), leaves in clusters, pointy tips on branches

Answer 3

Desert Almond

Question 4

Ephedra sp. - Ephedraceae Family (Ephedra)
- Desert shrub strategy, leaf opposite (1 on either side of stems), not a lot of leaves, gymnosperm
- Adderall/strong stimulant, more gray/green, tips look like the end of a cigarette

Answer 4

Mormon Tea

Question 5

Atriplex canescens - Chenopodiaceae Family (Spinach)
- Salt tolerant, Goosefoot family, perennial
- Silvery cast to it, dried fruit with 4 wings, rectangular looking leaf, male or female (switches each year), more bulbous looking for the fruit (caterpillar)

Answer 5

Fourwing Saltbush

Question 6

Cylindropuntia echinocarpa - Cactaceae Family (Cactus)
- Dense and smaller compared to the buckhorn Cholla, glochids
- lower to the ground, super spiny, flowers on tip (bowl shape)

Answer 6

Silver Cholla

Question 7

Lepidium fremontii - Brassicaceae/Cruciferae Family (Mustard)
- Seed germinated under the shade of another plant in order to grow
- (Fam. Charc.) narrow leaves, white petals with sort of flat tops in bunches, woody for this plant, thin dill looking leaves

Answer 7

Fremont’s Pepperweed

Question 8

Yucca utahensis - Asparagaceae Family (Asparagus)
- Tough fibers that come off, not much of a trunk usually, lower to ground, little branching, yucca moth, flower stalk branches (Utah specific), perennial

Answer 8

Utah Yucca

Question 9

Solanum elaegnifolium - Solanaceae Family (Tomato)
- Little yellow tomatoes (fruit), spiny parts, Russian olive leaf, (spines, thorns, and prickles for different types of leaves), this one has prickles
- Bright purple flowers, wrinkly webbed petals, 5 points

Answer 9

Silver leaf Nightshade

Question 10

Populus fremontii - Salicaceae Family (Willow)
- Tree, grows close to water, leaves sweat, really thick trunk, course teeth and sort of heart shaped leaves
- All male and all female, dangles down (female), catkin, females produce fluff
- Orange/green buds, green leaves

Answer 10

Fremont’s Cottonwood Tree