brittanyeburgard:

Meet #Packera franciscana, Arizona’s own #endemicSpecies of the alpine tundra, known as San Francisco Peaks groundsel (#Asteraceae). Growing only on the Peaks, these little plants are primary successional species, inhabiting cracks and fissures on the talus slopes overlooking northern AZ. On that cold, windy morning in late September, I was excited to see fruits and a flowering head on the plants while mapping populations near Arizona Snowbowl’s ski lift on Agassiz Peak. Their habitat is sensitive to disturbance like trail construction, trampling, Snowbowl expansion and the effects of #ClimateChange. The Peaks groundsel was listed as threatened in 1983. #StayOnTheTrail #rareplants #arizona #hikeaz  #alpinetundra #nativeplants #botanize #botany #plants #nature #naturephotography #natureishappiness #mountain #smallthings #conservation (at Arizona Snowbowl)