Back in Bloom!

For the second year in a row, the winner of "First Flowerer" award goes to.... the Fewseed Draba (Draba oligosperma)!  You heard right, there's activity on the green roof, of the flowering variety!  

This little plant is impressive.  If you want a role model for:

1. Toughness - we're still getting snow here, and the highest temperature our weather station has recorded so far this year is a mere 58.3 degrees.
2. Independence - this plant reproduces asexually!  No other plants, no pollinators needed.  Read more about it here.
3. Cuteness - see how little this little guy is?  It's about the size of a fifty-cent piece (do people still know what that is?).

 ... then look no further.  

Fewseed Draba (Draba oligosperma) in bloom, April 30, 2013

 
Spring Green

The Draba isn't the only one at the party, though it certainly started earlier than the others.  There are few other plants starting to green up and/or put buds on - the usual early spring suspects.

Hooker's Sandwort (Eremogone hookeri) - see a specimen here

Devil's Gate Twinpod (Physaria eburniflora) - check out its seed pods here

 

Prairie Smoke (Geum triflorum)

 

We are are just in the beginning of all of the action.  Check back soon!

Written by Brenna Marsicek, Biodiversity Institute