The Rocky Mountain Herbarium online database has been updated to include specimens from floristics projects in the Medicine Bow National Forest (WY side), Vermejo Park Ranch (NM), Lewis and Clark National Forest (MT) and the Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands (CO and KS). If you want to explore the specimens and their mapped locations on Google Earth, visit the Rocky Mountain Herbarium Specimen Database.
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| A tiny lace hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) growing on a shale outcrop above the Purgatoire River. |
The Comanche National Grassland of SE Colorado has a unique flora that includes elements of prairie species such as purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia), mixed with montane/foothill species like Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii). If you are looking for new places to explore in Colorado, this area can be a warm and sunny haven in late April and May. Bring your flora, plenty of water, and maybe even your mountain bike.
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| The Purgatoire River Valley dotted with oneseed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus). |
