Flowers  in the
Klamath Basin, Oregon
Page 57

Alkali-Marsh Ragwort Senecio hydrophilus	aka water groundsel, water ragwort, Great Swamp Groundsel, Alkalai-marsh Butterweed	Found  in canal overflow along Highway 97 by the Klamath Wildlife Reserve.	These plants grew on the perimeter of the overflow in the dry arid soil, but it would be considered a swampy or marshy area.	I found these ranging from 3 to 6 feet in height.
I don't remember exactly when I photographed these, but it was late summer.	The stems look like they'll make a nice paper.	Poisonous Poisonous	Companion plants: Stickywilly, Water smartweed, Common Reed, Indian Paintbrush, Tule, Cattail.
.		Saltgrass Distichlis spicata L	aka Inland Saltgrass, Alkali Saltgrass, Spike grass, desert saltgrass, zacate salado	I found these on Farmer Luther's alkali flats, the now dry lakebed for Spring Lake.
The first eight pictures were taken during the first two weeks of July.	Soil is arid and (obviously) alkaline.	These grasses averaged approximately 4-6 inches in height.	.	.
.			The whiteness and crystalline texture of the salty soil fascinates me. It is very beautiful.	Living in such a highly alkaline environment, I wonder - for papermaking - if cooking in soda ash is still necessary to remove the lignins. The water in The Basin is also alkaline, so...?

= Poisonous to animal and/or human
= Noxious or Invasive in Oregon
= Crop weed in Oregon
= Federal Noxious weed in Oregon

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Copyright 1998-2005 Colleen D. Bergeron.
Last revised: October 19, 2005.