Bladderpod

The previous post showed you bladderpods in the aggregate, but these wildflowers in the genus Lesquerella (and perhaps the species gracilis) grow low and small enough that you need a closeup to know what they look like. Here’s that closeup, taken in northwest Austin on March 2. The yellow glow in the background came from other bladderpods in the group, which was large enough that I considered it the first colony of native wildflowers I saw in 2012.

The four petals in the shape of a cross identify this plant as a member of the Cruciferae (now Brassicaceae), or mustard family. Notice a few of the spherical “bladders” that give this flower its common name.

© 2012 Steven Schwartzman

A Hill Country wildflower meadow

Click for greater size and clarity.

Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis), bladderpods (genus Lesquerella), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii).

Location: Texas Park Road 4 near Inks Lake in Burnet County. This picture goes back to April 1, but I was in the same area again on April 11 and I can confirm that I still saw plenty of fields and roadsides as dense with flowers as the meadow shown here.

© 2012 Steven Schwartzman