A Beautiful Unknown

[Michael13]

I'll bet one of you know the name of this lovely plant. It's plentiful in the Basin and Range lands of Nevada. It's especially striking when the sun is low.

 

[AlanLichty]

According to what I can find online its halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) also known as saltlover and Aral barilla. It's not native to America and is considered a noxious weed growing in soils far too saline for most plants.

 

[Michael13]

Thanks for the ID Alan. So this guy is an illegal alien, eh? It's everywhere in N Nevada, most likely in Eastern Oregon as well. It does make a pretty photo in good light though.

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks for the ID Alan. So this guy is an illegal alien, eh? It's everywhere in N Nevada, most likely in Eastern Oregon as well. It does make a pretty photo in good light though.

Some herder lost 160 sheep after they ate a bunch of this stuff back in the 1940's according to the Wikipedia page on this plant. Not sure who brought it into the Great Basin area and why but it has adapted to that arid environment rather well. Nevada's equivalent of Himalayan Blackberries in the PNW.

 

[JimFox]

Love it Michael! Perfect backlighting in #1.

And I knew Alan would end up being able to figure out the ID.