I am fortunate to be married to a retired veterinarian (DVM & MPVM, U.C. Davis) and a horticulturist (B.S., Cal Poly SLO) who humors me when I ask her (usually on other peoples behalf) "what's the name of this or that plant?". If I'm asking for myself, I'm wondering how good that plant might taste after some time on the grill.
And, in her spare time she is employed at a wholesale plant nursery growing plants appropriate to California's Mediterranean climate, including many California native plants, as well as vines, trees, shrubs, ferns, perennials, succulents, ornamental grasses and grass-like plants from other areas around the world .
If she doesn't know she will consult with one of the nursery owner's. She then relays to me the best guess answer (sort of like a guess from Spock, i.e., 99.99999% accurate) and then I can report back.
While the overall photos that are most often shown are good for seeing the plant in its natural surroundings, it would be really good if the photographer got down close with their MACRO LENS and provided some detail about the plant in question. This will really, really, really help in the identification process.
Given that the two most recent photos of plants from the Death Valley area do not have those close up details here are the best guesses from my stable of plant experts.
For the one from Ski3pin...
"Would guess the picture of the twiggy brownish plant to be of a Buckwheat, possibly Eriogonum rixfordii. Close up details would really help."
And, for Lighthawk's photo from his recent epic DV trip report...
And, the more succulent plant a Pickleweed, Salicornia pacifica, or Iodine Bush, Allenrolfea occidentalis, Pickleweed is not common in Death Valley but Iodine Bush is, so, it is likely this.
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I'm just the messenger on this, so, don't shoot me.
However, get those close up photos to obtain better and more accurate results for the next round of plant taxonomy.
Edited by Alley-Kat, 11 January 2018 - 06:18 PM.