Botany Photo of the Day

Thank you again to one of the good folks at the University of Colorado at Boulder for today's image and write-up. Janice Forbis is the assistant manager of the greenhouse in U of C's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. A big thank you to you, Janice!

Janice writes:

“Lupinus breweri var. breweri is native to the western USA (Oregon, California and Nevada) and found in open montane forests at higher elevations of the alpine. It is a member of the Fabaceae or bean family, the third largest family in the number of species. Brewer's lupine is a low-growing mat-forming plant, with silvery-silky leaves and densely hairy blue to violet petals. Alpine plants are strongly adapted to extreme conditions at high altitudes. The mat-forming or cushion habit is an advantage in wind resistance and avoiding damage from repetitive snowfalls. Hairy leaves are a way of limiting water loss in alpine areas which have free draining soils, frequent winds and high temperatures in the summer months.”

“This photo was taken during a week-end workshop, Flora of Mt. Ashland and the Eastern Siskiyous, part of The University of California at Berkeley Jepson Herbarium Weekend Workshop series.”

“It is always interesting to know where a plant name comes from. There are websites and exhibits, such as the one currently at the University of Colorado Museum titled “What’s in a Name? Understanding the World of Plants”. The name breweri is in honor of William Henry Brewer (1828-1910), an American botanist and professor. He was a botanical explorer of the California and Pacific Coast and his recommendations about Alaska led to its purchase by the United States in 1867 (source of plant name information: Michael Charters' Plant Names).”