Smelowskia calycina, June 7, 2022
S. calycina, lavender version, summit, June 9, 2022
S. calycina with fungus (and Fairy primrose), Halfmoon Lake, 12,300’, June 18, 2022
S. calycina in fruit, above Linkins Lake, 12,300’, July 7, 2022
Common & scientific name
Alpine smelowskia, Smelowskia calycina
Family
Mustard, Brassicaceae
Location
Upper Lost Man, 12,000’
Fun, weird, helpful, or little known fact
I love this flower so very, very much. In part because it is one of the first flowers of the season to emerge in the high alpine, so it is always a welcome sight. In part because it can range dramatically in size depending on how protected it is—there is a bouquet on Treasure Mountain tucked into a large marble boulder that is three times the size of the plants, both stems and flowers, seen in these photos. In part because its usually white petals sometimes emerge a lovely soft lavender. But mostly because of its name, in honor of the 18th century Russian botanist T. Smelovskii. This is one botanical name that is a joy to learn and say
S. calycina, Blue Lake area, 12,800’, June 17, 2022