In Search of the Dinosaur Daisy

Hymenoxys lapidicola
 
Approximately 15 years ago, Elizabeth Neese, a botanist from Salt Lake City, received a grant from the Bureau of Land Management to make an inventory of plants in the Green River area of Utah that lies within the Dinosaur National Monument. From what Elizabeth told me, it was a day off and she was just relaxing and wandering around near the base of Blue Mountain when she noticed a cushion type plant with stemless yellow flowers. Although appearing to be a Hymenoxys she was unable to recognise the species. Herbarium specimens were collected and taken to Brigham Young University in an attempt to identify it. After exhaustive checks, it was eventually declared a new species. In honour of the area in which the plant was found it was given the specific name 'lapidicola' , which effectively means 'a dweller of a place where things have petrified'.
Although this solitary plant was found lower down, the main colony grows on Weber sandstone amongst pinyon-manzanita communities at an elevation of 6,000-8,1000 feet. where it flowers May-June.
 
Nicholas Klise visited the site in 1989 and penned the descriptive common name of 'Dinosaur Daisy'.
 
In 1993 after the (N)ARGS conference in Vail, Colorado we did a tour staring at Denver, Colorado, driving through Wyoming then Montana and back down to Utah.
At Vernal(Utah) we met up with Ev and Bruce Whittemore who took us in their 4 x 4 up Blue Mountain where we were extremely lucky to find Hymenoxys lapidicola not only in flower but also in seed. This talk is the story of the tour, taking in plants found growing in the States through which we passed, and ending up with our exciting find on Blue Mountain.
 
A view of Dinosaur country from the top of Blue Mountain
 

The hunt starts

Still hunting

Taking a well earned rest at lunchtime

Hymenoxys lapidicola haBlue Mountain with stunted pines, penstemons and many other DYCs.ngs out in the sandstone pavements at the top of
 
 
 
 
 
 
The find
 
Hymenoxys lapidicola is also famous for the comment made by my wife Iris after Ev and myself shouted out to her to "Quick, here it is". She came up, took one look and replied "We haven't come all this way just to see that!" A comment that I feel ranks with the well known "Dr Livingstone I presume".
 
Once you have collected seed then grow the plant yourself ( or buy one from a reputable nurseryman!)
 
 
Hymenoxys lapidicola in cultivation