"More than YOU want to know?
The Iris species can readily pollinate each other so natural hybrids are common anywhere that more than one species occurs.
wild natural hybrid between Iris douglasiana and I. purdyi
And another
A wild Iris purdyi hybrid
All of the naturally occurring Iris species in the PNW are beardless.
Compare those with a couple of bearded garden hybrids.
Iris hybrid
Iris hybrid “Musician”
It is not very common in our area and is easily identified.
Spartium junceum on 14 May 2015 near Ukiah, California
Mimulus aurantiacus is also known as the Sticky Monkey Flower.
It occurs in the sunny open rocky areas of the serpentine soils in the mountain pass above us.
Mimulus aurantiacus
Mimulus aurantiacus
Dudleya cymosa is also known as Canyon live-forever.
It occurs in some of the sunny open areas on the serpentine rocks of the mountain pass above us.
Dudleya cymosa
Dudleya cymosa
Dudleya cymosa
Dudleya cymosa
Dudleya cymosa
This is often mistaken for scotch broom but is easy to tell apart as it has hairy fruit and a different stem and leaves.
It seems to be the predominate sort of the brooms in our area.
Genista monspessulana on 12 May 2015 in Mendocino County
Asarum hartwegii
This is one of the Wild ginger species; variously referred to as Marbled wild-ginger or Hartweg’s wild-ginger.
These images are not from home but rather are from Shasta County near Big Bend.
I was told that the flower is pollinated by a beetle.
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Asarum hartwegii
Monardella purpurea
Also known as Siskiyou monardella, Serpentine monardella & Serpentine Coyote Mint
It occurs in some of the sunny open rocky areas in the serpentine soils of the mountain pass above us.
Monardella purpurea
Monardella purpurea
Monardella purpurea
Monardella purpurea
Monardella purpurea
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Beautiful Woollysunflower
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Eriophyllum ambiguum
Hypericum perforatum
AKA common St. Johnswort or Klamath Weed
While this is considered an invasive weed it is also commonly valued as a medicinal plant.
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Hypericum perforatum
Feeding implements of a tick (dead)
It is the most commonly encountered one here at home (in Mendocino County, California).
Ixodes pacificus trio
Dorsal view of an adult female Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of an adult female Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of head of an adult female Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of the head of an adult female Ixodes pacificus
Dorsal view of an adult male Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of an adult male Ixodes pacificus
Dorsal view of a nymph of Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of a nymph of Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of a nymph of Ixodes pacificus
Ventral view of head of a nymph of Ixodes pacificus
A few more looks at those:
Adult female Ixodes pacificus
Adult female Ixodes pacificus
Nymph & adult male Ixodes pacificus
Adult male Ixodes pacificus
Adult male Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus trio; notice the nyph has crawled halfway through the ziplock. One escaped.
Check out those paired claws and the cool flexible adhesive pads on their feet! They sure can move fast.
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
a male Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
The next images are after it died (using transmitted light for illumination).
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Those sharp, and weirdly beautiful, blades are on the end of organs called “digits”. They are akin to the fang parts of a spider, and similarly are referred to as the chelicerae. Whereas those of a spider bear a piercing & injection tip, the tick uses these for carving away bits of flesh and excavating a pit in the animal that they bite with those crazy-looking cutting implements. Those rounded palps are used to help with the excavation process.
Ixodes pacificus
That tube in the center is called the hypostome and it is used to feed on the blood produced by the injury it creates.
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Notice how the tube of the hypostome is barbed to help the tick maintain a hold while it is feeding. An adhesive secreted by the tick also helps it to get a secure purchase. This barbed tube is the part of the head that tends to break off inside of the flesh during the act of removal.
Ixodes pacificus
More images of that same dead tick (using reflected light for illumination)
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus
Closer viewing of the hypostome:
Ixodes pacificus
Hypostome of Ixodes pacificus
Check out the hypostome on this dead Ixodes pacificus
Ixodes pacificus can transmit a variety of illnesses but the two big problem sorts that live here are the spirochetes known as Borrelia, which includes lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), and a piroplasm called Babesia. Babesia duncani is endemic here but the potential human health impact of other Babesia species is only beginning to be appreciated. Bartonella, Ehrlichia and others can also join the fun.
Babesia can be seen dividing inside of a human red blood cell below (1000x using Wright’s stain to visualize).
This is probably B. duncani but it did not test positive in any of the Igenex tests that were performed.
I did the blood smear below for myself AFTER being diagnosed with Babesia duncani based entirely on symptomology.
Babesia in human blood
This is from a few months ago:
Babesia in human blood
More images; if you really want to see more.