The Rare Plant Treasure Hunt: February 2011

Friday, February 4, 2011

Searching for the Wild and Weird!

Another trip to the desert! Join us, this time for a mid-week trip to the Colorado Desert

Monday-Wednesday, March 7-9th

Come botanize with us down Hwy 178 from Blythe to Arrowhead Springs to areas rarely explored by botanists!

We will be searching for Harwood’s milkvetch (Astragalus insularis var. harwoodii), Saguaro (Carnegia gigantea), Fortuna Range Suncup (Camissonia arenaria), Fariyduster (Calliandra eriophylla), Argus Blazing Star (Mentzelia puberula) and perhaps Sand Food (Pholisma sonorae) among other things.

RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/Rare-Plant-Treasure-Hunt.

(photos top-Sand Food (Pholisma sonorae) by Anna Bennett, 2010; bottom-Saguaro (Carnegia gigantea) by Keir Morse, 2010)

Field Trip Checklist

Be sure to have these in the field with you:

· Rare Plant Treasure Hunt Survey Form
· map of location of species occurrences
· maps/gazetteers for collecting locations and routes to sites
· identification materials (field guide, identification notes, etc.)
· GPS unit
· camera
· first aid kit
· pens/pencils
· compass
· hand lens
· food/snacks
· water
· boots and long pants (just in case you run into a cactus!)
· hat and sunscreen
· flashlight/headlamp