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Project Noah Nature School
Brilliant red stem and stalks. Very few leaves; none at the base of stalk. Leaves elongated and lobes, either green to red (see third photo, crop of second photo). Entire plant ~6-10" high. Flowers either inconspicuous, tiny (and red), or petals were shed at the time spotted.
A small group found growing near Ponderosa Pine on lava bed (Bandera Crater) and more numerous groups found few miles south amidst junipers and firs (upper elevation; semi-arid grassland). Hot, dry. Here's the most interesting characteristic: these red plants formed a ring around the base of conifer trees (juniper, fir, pine; see photos). Reminded me of Fairy Ring fungi.
I have exhausted all references trying to identify this plant. It is very captivating because of the brilliant red color and its habit of growth in a distinctive ring around the base of trees, like a Fairy Ring (parasitic? probably not saprophytic like fungi). If it lacked the few leaves it does have, I would have guessed a member of the orchid family. I hope someone can ID this before curiosity drives me nuts.
Spotted on Sep 30, 2011
Submitted on Oct 9, 2011
5 Comments
ElviraMoon said: "Does anyone know of a source (herbarium, etc) I can contact to request help in identifying this plant?"
Location of the photograph appears to be near a nat'l monument. It wouldn't be a bad idea to show these pictures (or your leaf sample) to a ranger there, they've probably been asked about every plant at their park at some point on a nature walk they've led.
Another possibility is a university extension office. They often deal with farmers/gardeners, and they would be a good bet for ID'ing a plant. They tend to have a different viewpoint, perhaps thinking of some plants as a 'weed' in someone's garden, but could give you an ID nonetheless. Also, if it is an introduced species, they may be familiar with it from that angle too. New Mexico State does have an extension office that you can find by googleing.
@Krista: I don't have access to a good scanner.
Does anyone know of a source (herbarium, etc) I can contact to request help in identifying this plant?
This is a very striking plant and has me curious as well. Is it possible for you to produce a color scan of your pressed specimen?
I have one pressed into a book I had on me during the hike. I searched for any features that might be petals, but only saw what appeared to be sepals (calyx) and ovule. But not developed enough to be fruit. Hence my hypothesis that the flowers may have recently expired (petals gone), or that the flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, as well as brilliant red.
Yes, leaves do resemble asteraceae. They were very, very few on the stalks, and either red or green. The group growing on the lava bed were red like the rest of the plant; those in the more forested grassland area had a few green leaves.
The oddest, and most curious characteristic, is the growth habit of ringing the base of the trees in almost perfect circles. Which makes me suspect if they might be root parasites?
I tried to take better macro shots of this plant, but the light was bright and intense (mid-day to middle-afternoon).
Very striking and beautiful in the landscape! Definitely not an orchid. Did you get up close to the flowers/fruits at all? Leaves have the mood of Asteraceae about them