I originally learned the botanical name of this native plant as Eupatorium greggii, but it is now Conoclinum dissectum. It’s neat that the tribute to Josiah Gregg, an adventurer, explorer, naturalist and plant collector of the early 1800s, is still part of the common name Gregg’s mistflower.
The photos were taken at a marvelous rocky plain near the Dragoon Mountains. It’s an area where I find all sorts of interesting plants and this large stand of Gregg’s mistflower was fabulous. I believe that’s a Painted Lady butterfly visiting the flowers. That’s only one of several species of butterflies seen on the flowers. Oh, and that bouquet on our table lasted several days!
Looking at storms out across the land from our little homestead near the Ol’ Guajolote.
I grew up in Kentucky and the state flower of the state is goldenrod. The particular species that has that honor is Solidago gigantea....
There are a dozen species of Melampodium and I wonder which one Linnaeus was looking at when he honored Melampus with the genus name....