Mousetail Ivesia
Ivesia santolinoides
July 15, 2012
North Dome
Mousetail Ivesia is in full bloom on North Dome. A member of the rose family, its common name relates to its narrow, velvety leaves which resemble mouse tails. Its tiny white blossoms balance atop thin, branching, almost-naked stems and today were shaking in the strong wind that tried to steal my hat. These easy-to-miss plants are part of the unique flora associated with the gravelly tops of Yosemite's granite domes. Please be careful where you step out in these special places!
Snowplant
Sarcodes sanguinea
July 15, 2012
Trail to North Dome from Porcupine Creek Trailhead
The mostly-dark forest floor of the first part of the trail to North Dome from the Porcupine Creek parking area is dominated by fallen trees, branches, rotting red fir logs, and stumps in various shades of brown and gray. All the more striking is this snowplant emerging from a seemingly monotone background of duff. With no chlorophyll at all to do normal plant-like things, it is probably getting its energy to flower (and eventually fruit) through a network of fungi in the soil that are themselves connected to the roots of nearby trees. This bright-red flowering plant is a strange little outgrowth of the forest internet!