An empty trail beckons, leading gently downwards. Indian Warrior blossoms beneath Coast Live Oaks, their host tree. This image was taken on March 15, 2008, in the middle of a cloudy day. This was the peak blooming time for the Indian Warrior, in an exceptional spring for them. The Plants: Indian Warrior (Pedicularis densiflora) is a root parasite, here using the roots of Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) for sustenance. The green leaves show that Indian Warrior is also capable of photosynthesis on its own. Both are native to this area. Location: Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve is located off Sand Hill Road above Palo Alto, California. It is owned and managed by Stanford University. Its mission is to contribute to the understanding of the Earth's natural systems through research, education, and protection of the Preserve's resources. See <jrbp.stanford.edu>. This image shows Trail 7, just below (west of) Road D. Photographer: Dan Quinn enjoys capturing and sharing images showing aspects of the natural world at a special moment. A resident of Portola Valley Ranch since 1977, he is vice president of the board of Acterra, and active with Hidden Villa and with Sempervirens Fund, POST, CGF and other conservation groups. His web site is <CaptureTheLight.Zenfolio.com>.