Photos Flora

Photo Gallery of Plants, Fungi, and Lichens at Utqiaġvik and Atqasuk (and occasionally elsewhere in Alaska)

All pictures were taken by AEP personnel, please feel free to use them for educational purposes.
Click on a picture for a high resolution image.

life in the tundra

Forbs

Papaver hultenii. A light yellow flower with four petals.

Papaver hultenii

Papaver hultenii. A light yellow flower with four petals.

Papaver hultenii. A light yellow flower with four petals.

Papaver hultenii buds. Small green, pubescent buds poke out from the ground.

Potentilla hyparctica. Small bright yellow flower with five petals.

Potentilla hyparctica

Potentilla hyparctica. Small bright yellow flower with five petals.

Potentilla hyparctica. Small bright yellow flower with five petals.

Potentilla hyparctica. Small bright yellow flower with five petals.

Potentilla hyparctica. Small bright yellow flower with five petals.

Melandrium apetalum before it produces flowers.

Melandrium apetalum. A purple flower shaped like a pod.

Melandrium apetalum

Melandrium apetalum. A purple flower shaped like a pod.

Melandrium apetalum. A purple flower shaped like a pod.

Senecio atropurpureous. A bright yellow flower with many petals.

Senecio atropurpureous

Senecio atropurpureous. A bright yellow flower with many petals.

Senecio atropurpureous. A bright yellow flower with many petals.

Senecio atropurpureous. The center part of the flower.

Saxifraga cernua. A small white flower with five petals.

Saxifraga cernua

Saxifraga cernua. A small white flower with five petals.

Saxifraga cernua. A small white flower with five petals.

Saxifraga hirculus. A small yellow flower with five petals.

Saxifraga hirculus

Saxifraga hirculus. A small yellow flower with five petals.

Saxifraga hirculus. A small yellow flower with five petals.

Saxifraga hirculus in bloom. Five bright yellow petals.

Saxifraga punctata. A small white flower with a large green center.

Saxifraga punctata

Saxifraga punctata. A small white flower with a large green center.

Saxifraga punctata. A small white flower with a large green center.

Saxifraga punctata. A small white flower with a large green center.

Saxifraga punctata before it has bloomed.

Saxifraga flagellaris. A small yellow flower with a red stem and leaves.

Saxifraga flagellaris

Saxifraga flagellaris in bloom. Small yell flower, red runners.

Saxifraga nivalis. Tiny white petals with a large green center.

Saxifraga nivalis

Saxifraga bronchialis subsp. fustonii in bloom. Small white flower, five petals.

Saxifraga bronchialis subsp. fustonii

Saxifraga cespitosa. Small white flowers with large green centers.

Saxifraga cespitosa

Saxifraga hieracifolia. Small red petals with a large green center.

Saxifraga hieracifolia

Saxifraga hieracifolia. Small red petals with a large green center.

Saxifraga hieracifolia. Small red petals with a large green center.

Saxifraga hieracifolia. Small red petals with a large green center.

Saxifraga foliolosa. A small white flower with a pink center.

Saxifraga foliolosa

Saxifraga foliolosa before it has bloomed.

Petasites frigidus. Pink and white flowers.

Petasites frigidus

Petasites frigidus. Pink and white flowers.

Petasites frigidus leaf.

Petasites frigidus. Pink and white flowers.

Boykinia richardsonii. Crowded spike of white/pale pink flowers.

Boykinia richardsonii

Boykinia richardsonii crowding a slope.

Saussurea angustifolia in bloom. Purple heads and narrow, strappy leaves.

Saussurea angustifolia

Saussurea angustifolia in bloom. Purple heads and narrow, strappy leaves.

Anemone parviflora in bloom. Five white petals.

Anemone parviflora

Anemone parviflora in bloom. Five white petals.

Pyrola grandiflora growth form

Pyrola grandiflora

Pyrola grandiflora in bloom, small, light pink, nodding flowers

Pyrola grandiflora blooming, short statured, flowering

Dodecatheon frigidum in bloom. Nodding magenta flowers with 6 reflexed petals.

Dodecatheon frigidum

Dodecatheon frigidum in bloom. Nodding magenta flowers with 6 reflexed petals.

Oxyria digyna. Cluster of tiny red flowers.

Oxyria digyna

Oxyria digyna

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum. Small green leaves with seeds in a cone.

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum. Small green leaves with seeds in a cone.

Pedicularis kanei. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis kanei

Pedicularis kanei. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis kanei. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis kanei. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis kanei before blooming.

Pedicularis kanei before blooming.

Pedicularis kanei. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis kanei after it flowered.

Pedicularis sudetica. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis sudetica

Pedicularis sudetica. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis sudetica. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis lapponica. Small yellow pod shaped flowers.

Pedicularis lapponica

Pedicularis lapponica. Small yellow pod shaped flowers.

Pedicularis capitata. Capitate yellow flowers.

Pedicularis capitata

Pedicularis capitata. Capitate yellow flowers.

Parrya nudicaulis blooming. Light pink flowers with four petals.

Parrya nudicaulis

Parrya nudicaulis blooming. Light pink flowers with four petals.

Parrya nudicaulis blooming. Light pink flowers with four petals.

Parrya nudicaulis growth form

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum bistorta

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum viviparum. Many tiny white flowers on a spike.

Polygonum viviparum

Chamerion angustifolium in bloom. Four bright pink petals with protruding stigmas.

Chamerion angustifolium

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Charmerion latifolium

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Silene acaulis. Purple flowers with five petals.

Silene acaulis

Silene acaulis. Purple flowers with five petals.

Draba lactea. Small white flowers with green centers.

Draba lactea

Draba lactea. Small white flowers with green centers.

Draba micropetala. Small yellow flowers with spikes.

Draba micropetala

Ranunculus nivalus. Yellow flowers with large green centers.

Ranunculus nivalus

Ranunculus nivalus. Yellow flowers with large green centers.

Ranunculus nivalus buds.

Ranunculus pallasii. White flower with heart shaped petals.

Ranunculus pallasii

Ranunculus pallasii. White flower with heart shaped petals.

Ranunculus pygmaeus. Small yellow flower.

Ranunculus pygmaeus

Bupleurum americanum. Umbel of small yellow flowers.

Bupleurum americanum

Linnaea borealis in bloom. Paired nodding flowers. Light pink with five lobes.

Linnaea borealis

Oxytropis nigrescens in bloom. Cushion growth with typical purple fabid flowers.

Oxytropis nigrescens

Polemonium acutiflorum in bloom. Five broad lilac petals.

Polemonium acutiflorum

Cardamine pratensis. Cluster of small green buds.

Cardamine pratensis

Cerastium beeringianum. A small white flower with heart shaped petals.

Cerastium beeringianum

Ameria maritima. Orange and pink flowers that resemble a pom pom.

Ameria maritima

Mertensia maritima. Stems spread out on the ground and produce small violet flowers.

Mertensia maritima

Taraxacum alaskanum yellow ligulate head.

Taraxacum alaskanum

Minuartia obtusiloba. Small white flowers with orange centers.

Minuartia obtusiloba

Cochlearia officinalis. Cluster of small white flowers.

Cochlearia officinalis

Stellaria laeta. Small white flower.

Stellaria laeta

Graminoids (grass-like)

Eriophorum vaginatum. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum vaginatum

Eriophorum vaginatum, Tufted white head.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri

Eriophorum scheuchzeri. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum angustifolium. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum angustifolium

Eriophorum angustifolium. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum russeolum. Scaled head.

Eriophorum russeolum

Eriophorum russeolum. Scaled head.

Luzula arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula arctica

Luzula arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula confusa. Yellow head.

Luzula confusa

Luzula confusa. Yellow head.

Carex aquatilis. Yellow head.

Carex aquatilis

Carex aquatilis. Yellow head.

Carex aquatilis seeds.

Carex aquatilis seeds.

Alopecurus alpinus. Long hairs on the head.

Alopecurus alpinus

Alopecurus alpinus. Long hairs on the head.

Alopecurus alpinus. Long hairs on the head.

Arctagrostis latifolia. Purple leaves.

Arctagrostis latifolia

Arctagrostis latifolia. Purple leaves.

Arctagrostis latifolia. Purple leaves.

Poa arctica. Scaled head.

Poa arctica

Hierachloe pauciflora. Purple pods.

Hierachloe pauciflora

Sedge species. Brown.

Sedge species

Shrubs (woody plants)

Cassiope tetragona. Bell shaped white flowers.

Cassiope tetragona

Cassiope tetragona. Bell shaped white flowers.

Cassiope tetragona. Bell shaped white flowers.

Cassiope tetragona buds.

Cassiope tetragona buds.

Cassiope tetragona buds.

Cassiope tetragona fruits.

Andromeda polifolia in bloom, pink urceolate flowers

Andromeda polifolia

Ledum palustre. Cluster of small white flowers.

Ledum palustre

Ledum palustre. Cluster of small white flowers.

Ledum palustre in flower. Small white clustered flowers.

Ledum palustre buds.

Empetrum nigrum. Small black berries.

Empetrum nigrum

Rubus chamaemorus. Medium white flowers.

Rubus chamaemorus

Rubus chamaemorus fruit. Orange.

Rubus chamaemorus fruit. Orange.

Rubus chamaemorus fruit. Orange.

Arctous alpina black overwintered berries and white urceolate ephemeral flowers

Arctous alpina

Arctous alpina ripening berries

Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Small pink flowers.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Vaccinium vitis-idaea fruit. Red.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea fruit. Red.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Red berries.

Vaccinium uliginosum. Small blue berries.

Vaccinium uliginosum

Vaccinium uliginosum. Small blue berries.

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas.

Salix rotundifolia

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas.

Salix rotundifolia. Red carpels.

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas.

Salix rotundifolia. Red carpels.

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas covered in pollen.

Salix rotundifolia. Red carpels.

Salix rotundifolia after blooming.

Salix pulchra. Pink stigmas.

Salix pulchra

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Betula nana. Small green leaves.

Betula nana

Betula nana. Small green leaves.

Diapensia lapponica. Small yellow flowers.

Diapensia lapponica

Diapensia lapponica. Cushion plant, small white flowers.

Dryas octopetala in bloom. Flowers with eight white petals and yellow center

Dryas octopetala

Kalmia procumbens in bloom. Bright pink flowers are bell shaped with five lobes.

Kalmia procumbens

Kalmia procumbens forming a dense cushion.

Mosses & Lichens (Cryptogames; cryptic gametes/reproduction by spores)

Light brown lichen.

Alectoria ochroleuca. White and blue.

Cladonia. Light green cone shaped.

Light green cone shaped lichen.

Dactylina acrtica. Orange finger shaped.

Dactylina acrtica. Brown finger shaped.

Cladonia. Light green cone shaped.

Various types of lichens.

Orange lichen.

Cetraria nivalis. Pale green.

Alectoria ochroleuca. Grey and white.

Cetraria nivalis. Pale green.

White crust lichen.

White crust lichen.

Cladonia. White cone shaped.

Cetraria nivalis. Pale green.

Light green finger shaped lichen.

Cladonia. Light green cone shaped.

Bryocaulon. Brown.

Cetraria richardsonii. Brown with white edges.

Thamnolia subuliformis. White.

Cetraria islandica. Light brown.

Brown lichen.

Dark brown lichen.

Cladina spp. growing at Marion Creek, Alaska

Cladonia coccifera, green cups with bright red spores

Dactylina arctica growing in a tundra mix

Hypogymnia rugosa, flat grey with black margins

Orange crust

Thamnolia subuliformis, thin bony white lichen growing in Racomitrium lanuginosum

Green and brown moss.

White crust on moss.

Various sphagnum mosses.

Green moss.

Sphagnum warnstorfii. Light green.

Sphagnum. Green moss that is browning.

Sphagnum. Green moss.

Liverwort. Green moss.

Green moss.

Polytrichum. Green moss.

Moss sporophytes.

Moss sporophytes.

Fun Fungi

Yellow fungi.

Tundra cross section.

Orange fungi.

Light brown fungi.

Red and brown fungi.

Orange fungi.

Brown fungi.

Dark brown fungi.

Light brown fungi.

White puffball mushroom being eaten by a black slug

Page last modified December 18, 2023

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