Visitors 10
Modified 28-Aug-23
Created 27-Aug-23
16 photos
Each summer, our grassy fields become carpeted with Hayfield Tarweed. Take a deep breath: wonderful aroma! Look closer: pollinators love these flowers! But don’t venture too close, if you want to keep safe from sticky tarry stuff. Here are some of the pollinators, from a morning at Portola Valley Ranch: butterfly, moth, fly, and two kinds of beefly. The little knobs on the plant, with their fragrant “tar”, help reduce water loss in this hot dry climate.
Our common Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta) has separate white flowers tinged with delicate yellow at the center, striped pink on the back. Coast Tarweed (Madia sativa), emits a similar sticky substance; its flowers are bright yellow, clustered around the top of the stem.
As usual, if you know any more, especially the species of pollinators, please leave a comment on the photo.
Our common Hayfield Tarweed (Hemizonia congesta) has separate white flowers tinged with delicate yellow at the center, striped pink on the back. Coast Tarweed (Madia sativa), emits a similar sticky substance; its flowers are bright yellow, clustered around the top of the stem.
As usual, if you know any more, especially the species of pollinators, please leave a comment on the photo.
Dan Quinn