Vernal Pool Flowers (Revised)
This page last modified on 19 August, 2003
Links to the photos: Back to Home Page
| Downingias | |
Comparison of Species | Examples and Notes added on reproductive stages & role of bees (28 May 2001). |
| Vernal Pool Mints |  |
Comparison of Species |
Remake of Vernal Pools Section
Somewhat greater rainfall in 2001, compared with 2000, has offered an opportunity to add to my collection of photos of visually interesting vernal pool flower species. The opportunity has been reinforced with the help of various folks who are part of The Nature Conservancy's efforts to preserve some large tracts containing vernal pools in California's central valleys.
To the 4 Downingia species shown in my photos from 2000, I've been able to add 3 species and 2 subspecies not previously seen. Both subspecies begged the question of whether one could use close-up photographs to distinguish differences between paired subspecies of a single parent (i.e. Downingia bicornuta var bicornuta vs. var picta; and D. concolor var brevior vs. var concolor). In addition, close inspection of the photographs was needed to see the systematic differences separating D. bella (Hoover's Downingia, which occurs at Santa Rosa Plateau in southern California) from D. bicornuta (Two-Horned Downingia, which occurs northwards from the region near Sacramento, California).
The Vernal Pool Mint species (in the Pogogyne and Acanthomintha genera) are also fascinating visually. Unlike the Downingias, the 6 species of Pogogyne found in California vernal pools (or seasonally intermittent creeks) seem to occur in areas that do not overlap very much if at all.
In fact the Downingias are interesting because they are visually pleasing (when enlarged enough to appreciate fine details), while subtle visual differences distinguish the various species of the genus one from another. I had been dissatisfied with the user interface I used to organize the vernal pool photos from 2000. With the desire to facilitate comparisons among members of a larger group of species, I had decided to try a different approach. The first examples of this may be seen in my draft search key for San Diego County Wildflowers.
I've now posted an initial set of photos for the Downingia species applying the revised user interface. You can step from one photo to the next in the series by clicking the VCR-like icons at left of each full-screen image. (Note: The presentation is designed for computer screen dimensions of 1024x768 pixels, or larger.) Click the left-pointing arrow icon to return to the "Thumbs Map" opening screen. Move your cursor over any one of the reduced thumbnail images to see a brief summary of the species, date, and location. I've tested with both Netscape and M-S Internet Explorer browsers, and suggest that you suppress most (or all) of the toolbars using the View menu of either browser.
In earlier postings of the vernal pools photos, I elected to use expanded images of the flowers with dimensions of only 600x450 pixels or less. One objective was to limit the download time experienced by a user with dial-up access to the Internet. Another was to conserve limited disk space so that a larger selection of photos could be posted at my Internet Service Provider. But I've concluded that one really needs the (nearly) full screen format for a single image to appreciate the subtleties of the individual species. Unavoidably, the larger enlarged images will involve longer download times (sigh ...).
Your comments, questions, and/or corrections will be appreciated via E-mail to nospambowlesk at att.net (An individual sender should remove the "nospam" part and construct the obvious E-mail address from this information.).