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Gilia scopulorum
(shown with Apolysis sp.)
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Photographer: Aaron Schusteff
ID: 0000 0000 0808 0462 (2008-08-07)Copyright © 2008 Aaron Schusteff
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INFORMATION PROVIDED WITH THE PHOTO
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date of photo Jul 25, 2008
location
At ~9,300 ft, along White Mountain Road, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest (Inyo County, California, US)family
Polemoniaceae
notes Detail of a flower of Gilia scopulorum with a bee fly visiting (in the genus Apolysis). Note the blue pollen on the bee fly's head and thorax. The plant was growing on a disturbed and exposed south facing slope which appeared to contain fill from recent construction of a road turnout. Initially I was tentative in my provisional ID of G. scopulorum, as references list that species occuring much lower (below ~4000 ft) and typically in Creosote scrub, rather than the open Pinyon woodland habitat at ~9,300 ft where I found this specimen, growing with sagebrush (Artemesia nova) and Ephedra as codominant shrubs. There were other discrepancies too, but overall it seemed to fit G. scopulorum better than any other Gilia species. I thank Gilia authority J. M. Porter for confirming the species ID and providing interesting additional comments. In particular, he mentioned that Gilia scopulorum has two different ploidy levels, n=9 and n=18, and is quite variable across its range. Moreover, this particular plant is an odd form with its diffuse branching, very small leaves, and anomalously high elevation. I wonder if perhaps its a waif here, whose seed was introduced in road fill brought from lower elevations within its more typical range. More detailed images of the bee fly are posted at: http://bugguide.net/node/view/211043camera Shot with a Canon Digital Rebel XT at f9 1/400, ISO 400, using a Canon 100mm macro lens.
photo category: Plant - annual/perennial
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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PLANT
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| Look for Jepson Manual treatments, maps (University & Jepson Herbaria)View Calflora record for Gilia scopulorumView all photos in CalPhotos of Gilia scopulorum Check Google Images for Gilia scopulorum |
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The photographer's identification Gilia scopulorum has not been reviewed. Sign in to review or comment on this photo |
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Using this photo The thumbnail photo (128x192 pixels) on this page may be freely used for personal or academic purposes without prior permission under the Fair Use provisions of US copyright law as long as the photo is clearly credited with © 2008 Aaron Schusteff.
For other uses, or if you have questions, contact Aaron Schusteff arbonius2[AT]sbcglobal.net. (Replace the [AT] with the @ symbol before sending an email.) |
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