2022
Western Colorado

We made a trip to several locations in Western Colorado around the 4th of July. After going over Cottonwood and Kebler passes in Gunnison County (see our images from that area) we headed northwest on Gunnsion National Forest Road 265 toward Collbran and then to Colorado National Monument near Fruita, and the Uncomphagre Plateau southwest of Whitehorse to Norwood along the Divide Rd. Later we made a trip to the White River Plateau north of Glenwood Springs on August 1, following FR600, 601 and 602.
These areas yielded 11 new species for the website.
Please contact us with comments and if you see errors in identification.

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Castilleja linariifolia (Wyoming Paintbrush) 4414
Common Name Wyoming Paintbrush
Scientific Name Castilleja linariifolia
Family Orobanchaceae (Broomrape)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Along Rimrock Drive, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/13
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 200
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Chaetopappa ericoides (Rose Heath) 4238
Common Name Rose Heath, Small-flower Aster
Scientific Name Chaetopappa ericoides
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Alcove Trail, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
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NEW! Cirsium arizonicum var. bipinnatum (Cainville Thistle) 4384
Common Name Cainville Thistlee
Scientific Name Cirsium arizonicum var. bipinnatum
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Along Rimrock Drive, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 200
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NEW! Cirsium perplexans (Rocky Mountain Thistle) 4588
Common Name Rocky Mountain Thistle, Adobe Hills Thistle
Scientific Name Cirsium perplexans
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
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Clematis ligusticifolia (Virgin’s Bower) 4436
Common Name Virgin's Bower, Western White Clematis
Scientific Name Clematis ligusticifolia
Family Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/15 sec.
ISO 400
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NEW! Dracocephalum parviflorum (American Dragonhead) 4162
Common Name American Dragonhead
Scientific Name Dracocephalum parviflorum,
Moldavica parviflora
Family Lamiaceae (Mint)
Date July 4, 2022
Location Buzzard Divide Road, Gunnison National Forest, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 200
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Erigeron divergens (Spreading Daisy) 4615
Common Name Spreading Daisy, Spreading Fleabane
Scientific Name Erigeron divergens
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/13
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
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NEW! Grindelia fastigiata (Pointed Gumweed) 4344
Common Name Pointed Gumweed
Scientific Name Grindelia fastigiata
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Along Rimrock Drive, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 200
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NEW! Gutierrezia sarothrae (Broom Snakeweed) 4223
Common Name Broom Snakeweed
Scientific Name Gutierrezia sarothrae
Family Fabaceae (Pea)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Alcove Trail, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/18
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
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Heterotheca villosa (Hairy False Goldenaster) 4284
Common Name Hairy False Goldenaster
Scientific Name Heterotheca villosa
Family Asteraceae (Sunflower)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Alcove Trail, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 800
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NEW! Lepidium montanum (Mountain Pepperweed) 4445
Common Name Mountain Pepperweed
Scientific Name Lepidium montanum
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 400
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Lupinus pruniphilus (Big-leaf Lupine) 4472
Common Name Big-leaf Lupine
Scientific Name Lupinus prunophilus
(Lupinus polyphyllus var. prunophilus)
Family Fabaceae (Pea)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/25 sec.
ISO 400
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Orthocarpus luteus (Yellow Owl’s -clover) 4597
Common Name Yellow Owl's-clover
Scientific Name Orthocarpus luteus
Family Orobanchaceae (Broomrape)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
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Galium boreal (Northern Bedstraw) 4968
Common Name Northern Bedstraw
Scientific Name Galium boreale
Family Rubiaceae (Madder)
Date August 1, 2022
Location Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau, Garfield County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/500 sec.
ISO 400
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NEW! Pinus flexilis (Limber Pine) 0046
Common Name Limber Pine
Scientific Name Pinus flexilis
Family Pinaceae (Pine)
Date August 1, 2022
Location Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau, Garfield County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor 24-120 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 120 mm
Aperture f/18
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 400
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Polemonium foliosissimum (Leafy Jacob’s Ladder) 4108
Common Name Leafy Jacob's Ladder, Tall Jacob's Ladder
Scientific Name Polemonium foliosissimum
Family Polemoniaceae (Phlox)
Date July 4, 2022
Location Buzzard Divide Rd, Gunnison National Forest, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 200
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NEW! Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir) 0033
Common Name Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir
Scientific Name Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca
Family Pinaceae (Pine)
Date August 1, 2022
Location Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau, Garfield County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor 24-120 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 120 mm
Aperture f/18
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 400
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NEW! Purshia mexicana var. stansburyana (Stansbury's Cliffrose) 4179
Common Name Stansbury's Cliffrose
Scientific Name Purshia mexicana var. stansburyana, Purshia stansburiana, Cowanania stansburyana
Family Rosaceae (Rose)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Alcove Trail, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
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Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana (Dotted Saxifrage) 4984
Common Name Dotted Saxifrage
Scientific Name Saxifraga bronchialis ssp. austromontana
Family Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage)
Date August 1, 2022
Location Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau, Garfield County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 400
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Sisymbrium altissimum (Tumble Mustard) 4501
Common Name Tumble Mustard, Jim Hill Mustard
Scientific Name Sisymbrium altissimum
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
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Sphaeralcea coccinea (Scarlet Globemallow) 4477
Common Name Scarlet Globemallow
Scientific Name Sphaeralcea coccinea
Family Malvaceae (Mallow)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 400
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NEW! Stanleya pinnata (Desert Prince’s Plume) 4318
Common Name Desert Prince's Plume
Scientific Name Stanleya pinnata
Family Brassicaceae (Mustard)
Date July 5, 2022
Location Along Rimrock Drive, Colorado National Monument, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/400 sec.
ISO 200
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NEW! Verbena bracteata (Bigbract Verbena) 4650
Common Name Bigbract Verbena, Prostrate Vervain
Scientific Name Verbena bracteata
Family Verbenaceae (Verbena)
Date July 6, 2022
Location Along Divide Road, Uncompahgre Plateau, Mesa County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens Nikkor-Micro 105 mm f/2.8
Focal Length 105 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 800

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Ten Mile Range and Rhodiola integrifolia (King’s Crown) in Summit County