Amblyomma cajennense

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Amblyomma cajennense
AKA the cayenne tick

Amblyomma cajennense from Jim Hogg County Texas

The cayenne tick has a wide-spread distribution in warmer climates and is claimed to be among the world’s most important ticks in terms of being a human disease vector. These images were provided thanks to this species being encountered while doing field work in South Texas.

Amblyomma cajennense habitat in Jim Hogg County, Texas

More images of those two beauties.
Notice how long their mouth parts are? This is part of why the bite from these ticks really hurts when compared to some other tick species.

Amblyomma cajennense from Jim Hogg County Texas

My first encounter with this species was actually not noticed until after returning home when I found five nymphs I had missed. Two were destroyed during removal.

Amblyomma cajennense from Jim Hogg County Texas

These can carry a BUNCH of serious problems including tularemia, rocky mountain spotted fever and assorted rickettsias. I was really lucky. Those five only gave me Ehrlichia which a simple round of antibiotics cleared up promptly.

Tolpis barbata

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Tolpis barbata

“European Umbrella Milkwort”

Native to southern Europe.

Tolpis barbata

Trientalis latifolia

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Trientalis latifolia is also known as the Pacific starflower.

Trientalis latifolia

Sceloporus occidentalis

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Sceloporus occidentalis
Western fence lizard

Apparently these have the ability to cure ticks of lyme infections if that tick bites them. It is being studied to determine if that can be of use for humans.

Sceloporus occidentalis

Trillium

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Trillium ovatum, the Coast Trillium, occurs here.

The flowers start out white and change colors after being pollinated.

Trillium ovatum with seedpod

Trillium ovatum seedpod

Trillium ovatum seedpod

Trillium ovatum seedpod

Trilium ovatum seedling

Piperia unalascendis

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Piperia unalascendis
Alaska rein orchid

The deer often eat these before they can finish flowering.

Piperia unalascendis

Piperia unalascendis

Piperia unalascendis

Piperia unalascendis

Claytonia perfoliata subsp. perfoliata

Posted on January 1, 2010 by admin

Claytonia perfoliata subsp. perfoliata

Miner’s lettuce

Rarely does this plant look so well developed in nature here. These were growing pampered in garden soil with watering AND protected from deer. Many people seem to consider these a weed (this spring some of our visitors were visibly horrified to see them being treated as a food crop) but when young we love them as part of our diet. Their young leaves are superior to baby spinach in both taste and texture. As they get older the oxalic acid content gets too high to want to eat them.