Colorado River Plant

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by teague, Nov 12, 2009.

  1. teague

    teague Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    las vegas
    Hi,

    I found this plant growing along a warm spring off a side canyon along the Colorado River (below the Hoover Dam).

    It produced a white latex when broken along the stem. It was not in flower, so I assume it is a spring-flowering plant.

    Any ideas?

    thanks
     

    Attached Files:

    teague, Nov 12, 2009
    #1
  2. abgardeneer

    abgardeneer Active Member

    Messages:
    785
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Calgary, AB
    Ephedra spp., possibly Ephedra viridis, Mormon tea.
     
    abgardeneer, Nov 14, 2009
    #2
  3. teague

    teague Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    las vegas
    No, Ephedra species around here don't produce latex. And their leaves are scale-like.
     
    teague, Nov 16, 2009
    #3
  4. David in L A

    David in L A Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    671
    Likes Received:
    27
    Location:
    Los Angeles, U.S.
    Asclepias subulata?
     
    David in L A, Nov 16, 2009
    #4
  5. teague

    teague Active Member 10 Years

    Messages:
    124
    Likes Received:
    23
    Location:
    las vegas
    No, that was my first thought, but Asclepias subulata is flowering right now, and this wasn't...Also it didn't look like the plant as a whole, especially with the leaves like that. The stems also look straighter and more rigid than Asclepias subulata, which is generally crooked. Who knows, maybe it was one.
     
    teague, Nov 23, 2009
    #5

Share This Page