I usually don’t expect to see wildflowers blooming in the desert in October. I mean, other than the yellow rabbitbrush flowers.
But then back in October we came across these flowers growing alongside Highway 376 north of Tonopah and south of Kingston Canyon, in Big Smoky Valley.
Flowers or Foliage?
At first we thought they were vegetation that was turning color for fall. Most of the them were burgundy colored.
They formed bouquets along with the rabbitbrush.
Then we stopped the car to take photos and realized they were flowers. Some were more pink than burgundy and some were white with burgundy centers.
Can You Identify This Mystery Plant?
Patrick is usually good at researching plants online to find out what they are, but these stumped him.
If you know what these fall wildflowers are please comment at the end of this post. Perhaps someone from the Nevada Native Plants Society can solve the mystery.
Halogeton glomeratus, also known as saltlover, is an invasive annual herb native to Eurasia that has spread throughout the arid and semi-arid regions of the western United States. It is characterized by its fleshy, blue-green leaves tipped with a bristle, and its ability to accumulate salts from the soil, which it then leaches into the topsoil upon death, creating unfavorable conditions for other plants. This plant is toxic to livestock, particularly sheep, due to its high oxalate content, and it reproduces rapidly by producing two types of seeds that can remain viable in the soil for many years.
Martha, thanks for solving the mystery.