Alaska Wildflowers - New Articles!
Three new additions to the online guide - with a new season about to begin!
Tall Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
The Tall Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum) is a notable wildflower species found in Alaska and other high-latitude and high-altitude regions. Its distinguishing features are its clustered blue, bell-shaped flowers and the ladder-like arrangement of its leaves. The Tall Jacob's Ladder adapts to diverse habitats, including moist alpine meadows, rocky slopes, and well-drained areas within the boreal forest. Additionally, this species has historical medicinal uses and plays significant ecological roles within its habitats. Learn more about the Tall Jacob's Ladder in my detailed guide here.
Yellowstone Draba (Draba incerta)
The Yellowstone Draba (Draba incerta) is a hardy flowering plant that thrives in the harsh conditions of its native alpine and arctic tundra habitats. This species is characterized by its small, yellow flowers and has the ability to bloom in rocky, nutrient-poor soils. Although it may be overlooked due to its small size, the Yellowstone Draba is an essential component of the tundra ecosystem. The study of this species can provide valuable insights into plant adaptations for survival in extreme environments. Find out more about the Yellowstone Draba in my guide here.
Little Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor)
The Little Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor) is a fascinating plant species native to parts of Europe and Asia and potentially found in Alaska. This species is a hemiparasite, meaning it can obtain nutrients from the roots of other plants while also photosynthesizing. This unique survival strategy, coupled with the plant's vibrant yellow flowers, makes it an interesting subject of study. Taxonomically, the Little Yellow Rattle and its two subspecies present a challenge due to conflicting information in floras and databases. Learn more about the Little Yellow Rattle and its subspecies here.
The Wildflower Guide
The Alaska Wildflower Guide is my passion project, where I aim to capture and meticulously document the diverse wildflowers that grace our Alaskan landscapes. To date, the guide is home to 86 in-depth articles, with an additional 20 that are nearing completion. My ambition for the upcoming season is to reach a total of 175 entries, a goal that will bring me closer to the vibrant botanical tapestry (of over 1500 species) that Alaska offers.
The ultimate dream? To transform the Alaska Wildflower Guide into a comprehensive, self-published field guide by 2024, with the exciting possibility of developing an accompanying app. This will put the vibrant world of Alaskan wildflowers at your fingertips, making it more accessible than ever.
While the online guide will always remain free for your perusal, it does come with its fair share of expenses and countless hours spent in research, identification, and writing. On average, I invest over $1,000 annually in web hosting, domain registration, and photo storage and backup. If you've found value in these guides and wish to support this project, I warmly invite you to consider making a donation or becoming a paid subscriber. Your contribution will not only help maintain the guide but also fuel its growth, allowing us to delve deeper into Alaska's floral wonders together.