Texas groundsel group in a huge Indian paintbrush colony
Senecio ampullaceus group in a huge colony of Castilleja indivisa on FM 969 west of Bastrop on March 19th.
© 2023 Steven Schwartzman
Portraits of Wildflowers
Perspectives on Nature Photography
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Portraits of Wildflowers 
Lovely
Sherry Felix
March 25, 2023 at 5:24 PM
Most land out in the country here is fenced. This property wasn’t, and being able to walk through the flowerful field was a treat.
Steve Schwartzman
March 26, 2023 at 6:56 AM
Thanks to a discovery yesterday, I had to make the effort to re-educate myself on Senecio and Packera. Hopping between BONAP and the USDA site, I figured out that some Senecio species have been moved to Packera — but not this one. Yesterday’s fields were filled primarily with P. glabella, which used to be among the Senecios. At least I got smart and started taking leaf and stem photos, which helps with identification.
What can’t be denied is that any of these flowers make for a stunning display, whether alone or in combination with other flowers, as you’ve shown here. To paraphrase the old phrase, red and yellow please a fellow — or a girl, for that matter.
shoreacres
March 26, 2023 at 9:50 AM
Only yesterday did I see my first Packera glabella of the year. When I learned it from Marshall Enquist’s book over two decades ago, all three of the similar species found in central Texas were classified as Senecio. Now only Senecio ampullaceus still is, with the other two having been moved to Packera. As you noted, the leaves make differentiation pretty easy.
One rarity for this wildflower field is that it wasn’t fenced, so I could go where I wanted and compose pictures however I wanted, which as you know, barbed wire most often prevents.
Steve Schwartzman
March 26, 2023 at 10:34 AM
Lovely. Jigsaw puzzle fodder.
Steve Gingold
March 27, 2023 at 4:15 AM
I’ve had many such recently, given the large fields of wildflowers.
Steve Schwartzman
March 27, 2023 at 6:53 AM
Lots of paintbrush. I rarely see them in packs like this. Usually, more isolated.
Alessandra Chaves
March 27, 2023 at 9:19 AM
This species of paintbrush tends to form large colonies. From what you’ve said, that’s less common for the species you’re familiar with in California.
Steve Schwartzman
March 27, 2023 at 9:49 AM
I would think so.
Alessandra Chaves
March 27, 2023 at 10:31 AM
Then I hope you’ll eventually get to see our colonial paintbrushes.
Steve Schwartzman
March 27, 2023 at 10:45 AM