2008-05-04 Cyp fasciculatum in the Gorge

Last year at about this same time, I visited this very same population of Cyp fasciculatum to see the biggest clump of plants I've ever heard of. This year, things were different for some reason. Here is what it looked like in 2007:



And here is that same clump in 2008. Grazing took almost every single flower.



All three of the large clumps looked like this. When I arrived at the scene, the plants were so small, I thought that they had been dug by some disgusting plant collector! Though stunted, at least they're still there!

There are a number of factors that could have contributed.
1.) The canopy is ever closing, limiting the light.
2.) There was not much rain during the last summer.
3.) Overabundance of flowers last year (no seed though) drained the plant.
4.) Over zealous hikers seeing the spectacular blooming in 2007 and getting too close and trampling the roots set the plants far back.
5.) Very cold grey spring weather!
6.) The plants are mostly staying dormant for a year or more due to unknown variables.
7.) Something else not visible.

Here is the one plant that had a couple of nice flowers.


Down the trail, everything else was enjoying the weather. This is some broomrape.


The Oak-and-Balsamroot-covered hills.


We'll see what this population does next year.