Autumn in The Gila, 2 of 3: Wildflowers

Photographs of October in southwestern NM

Nov 02, 2024

Spear Globemallow (Sphaeralcea hastulata)

This is part 2 of a 3 part series. See part 1: Trees. I took all these photos in the upper Gila River valley in southwestern New Mexico.

Mock Vervain (Glandularia sp.)

This charming little plant was growing in the currently dry bed of Mogollon Creek, which joins the Gila River just past this spot. Mogollon Creek is dry more often than not, in my experience visiting this area since 2018.

I suspect this might be Glandularia chiricahensis, known as Chiricahua Mountain Mock Vervain or just Chiricahua Vervain, based on a 2022 iNaturalist observation at virtually the same location.

Blue Water-Speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica)

Also known as Brook Pimpernel, this lovely plant is in the Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae). Cosmopolitan in distribution and at home in wet areas, including actually in water.

Cobblers Pegs (Bidens pilosa)

This flower is better known for—and named after—its seeds than its flowers, which are undistinguished. The seeds tips are forked into hooks that easily embed themselves in clothing or fur, hence the common names Hitch Hikers, Beggarticks, Spanish Needle, Devil's Needles, Devils Pitchfork, and Sticky Beaks. Also known as Black Jack and Farmer’s Friend. I often find the seeds stuck on my pant legs after a walk. The leaves are edible and the plant became known as “soldier vegetable” when GIs started eating it in Vietnam.

Hairy Evening Primrose (Oenothera laciniata)

I’m familiar with many of the wild Primroses of the southwest deserts, but this one was new to me. The family (Onagraceae) is characterized by four-petaled flowers, which is also the hallmark of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) and the Poppy Family (Papaveraceae). This one has a fairly prostrate growth habit (it grows along the ground rather than standing upright).

Rabbit Tobacco (Pseudognaphalium sp.)

I love the common name. I picture a bunny stuffing the fuzzy leaves into a pipe made from an acorn shell or something and sparking it up.

You might find the flower similar to Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), and in fact they are closely related, both belonging to the Gnaphalieae tribe of the Aster Family (Asteraceae).

Tahoka Daisy (Machaeranthera tanacetifolia)

Also known as Tansyleaf Tansyaster, this is the only purple-colored flower I have seen around here at this time of year. I’m totally a sucker for cute little purple Asters. They charm me every time.

Rubber Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)

As a percentage of all in the individual flowers currently blooming in this area, I’d say at least 90% of them are on Rubber Rabbitbrushes. This is the only plant really going off right now at peak; everything else is way past. So every bush is swarming with pollinators because this is about the only food around. Part 3 of this series, which focuses on insects, is mostly centered around this one species!

The foliage shows classic desert adaptations: light-colored to reflect the sun and narrow to reduce exposure to it.

Spear Globemallow (Sphaeralcea hastulata)

I saved my favorite for last. There are dozens species of Globemallow throughout the US American southwest, most of them orange-blossomed. I first fell in love with them in the Mojave Desert in 2014, and am thrilled whenever I get to meet a new species. There are several around here, some of them tricky to tell apart. This is my best guess for this one.

The Globemallows all love disturbed areas and “waste places” but respond favorably to water. They are common along roadsides. Here they are growing near an irrigation ditch.