Research Associate Becca and I got a late start this morning, but the sunny, clear day was still cool when we headed off on the Tortugas Mountain trail, Monte Vista side. Immediately we came upon this interesting looking plant, which appears to be growing inside a Little-leaf Sumac. Parasitic relationship? I'm still doing research.
(According to Wynn Anderson, Botanical Curator for the Centennial Museum at UTEP, this is "Virgins Bower," aka "Old Man's Beard" [Clematis drummondii], an aggressive clamoring vine that can actually choke off light to the supporting plant.)Here's a closeup of the thing, which resembles cotton candy.
Here's a photo of Tortugas's east face; quite a difference from the way it appeared yesterday.
This is Becca being restrained. Will she ever grow out of this urge to chase anything that moves?
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