In late September and early October, 2011, Jane McGary, Diane Whitehead and Don Jones, and Eugene Zielinski made a trip to Chile to observe (and photograph) the flowering desert. This page shows some of the herbaceous flora seen. Photographs by Eugene Zielinski.
Argylia radiata, a perennial member of the Bignoniaceae, was encountered frequently throughout the trip. Flowers were generally some shade of orange except for those at Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas, which were an attractive orange-brown in color. (See the fourth photograph.) Along the coast, flowers were borne in heads; in the interior, flowers were borne in racemes, like foxgloves. (Perhaps the interior plants had been blooming longer.) The first three photographs were taken in the Huasco area. The fourth photograph was taken at Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas.
The image below shows Argylia radiata growing with Rhodophiala and Leucocoryne. Photo was taken in the Huasco area.
Calceolaria species in grass near Los Andes.
Centaurea chilensis (Asteraceae) along Route 5 between La Serena and Huasco. The flowers were quite large, almost 7.5 cm (3 inches) in diameter.
Cistanthe grandiflora is a succulent member of the Portulacaceae and an important component of the flowering desert. The second photo shows an individual with unusual purplish foliage, and the third photo shows the intricate pattern on the flower buds and sepals. The first photo was taken at Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe, the second near Huasco, and the third near Taltal.
Cistanthe species growing in Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe. Flowers are more pinkish than the image shows.
Cristaria (Malvaceae) is another genus frequently encountered in the flowering desert. These images (of unidentified species) were taken near Pichidangui and along Route 5 between La Serena and Huasco.
Cruckshanksia pumila is a low growing annual in the Rubiaceae. This one was photographed between Huasco and Carrizal Bajo.
Encelia canescens, a subshrub in the Asteraceae, was very common in the Huasco area. These photographs were taken between Huasco and Carrizalillo.
Eschscholzia californica, the California Poppy (not native to Chile), grew in abundance along roadsides from the outskirts of Santiago to the coast. These plants were photographed between Pichidangui and Los Vilos.
Gazanias were frequently seen as garden plants, but we never saw them growing in the wild. This plant was growing in a sculpture (or planter) in a small seaside park in Taltal.
Loasa tricolor was common in rocky and brushy areas. The plants, which could be several feet long, were covered in stinging spines. Photographed at Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas.
Nolanas are very important components of the flowering desert, and occur as annuals, perennials, or shrubs. They are generally considered to be in the Solanaceae, but some authors place them in their own family, the Nolanaceae. The images below are of some unidentified annual species.
This Nolana was common between Huasco and Carrizalillo. The first image shows a dwarf individual with a full sized flower. The second image shows more typical plants. (Incidentally, the bird in the second image is a Mourning Sierra-Finch.)
A Nolana photographed near Taltal.
Two different Nolana species growing together near Taltal.
Polyachyrus species (P. annuus?) is an annual member of the Asteraceae. Photographed at Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe.
Schizanthus lacteus(?). Schizanthus are annuals or short lived perennials in the Solananceae, and several species occur in the flowering desert. The first picture was taken along Route 5 between La Serena and Huasco, and the second picture was taken in the Taltal area.
Schizanthus littoralis with its beautiful flowers at Parque Nacional Fray Jorge.
Schizanthus tricolor photographed along Route 5 between Los Vilos and La Serena.
Schizopetalum species (Brassicaceae) photographed between Huasco and Carrizalillo.
Solanum chilense is a showy subshrub. These were photographed in the Paposo area.
Solanum heterantherum is a beautiful subshrub of sandy areas. Photographed between Huasco and Carrizalillo.
Solanum species (possibly S. maritimum) photographed between Huasco and Carrizalillo.
Sphaeralcea species (Malvaceae) growing near Taltal. The flowers were usually pink, but white individuals could occasionally be found.
Viola polypoda(?), a yellow violet photographed near Taltal.
To see other photos from this trip, click on the links below.
Bulbs - Trees, Shrubs, and Cacti - Scenery