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

Ameria maritima

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

Anemone parviflora

Anemone parviflora in bloom. Five white petals.

Anemone parviflora in bloom. Five white petals.

Bupleurum americanum

Bupleurum americanum. Umbel of small yellow flowers.

Boykinia richardsonii

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

Boykinia richardsonii crowding a slope.

Cardamine pratensis

Cardamine pratensis. Cluster of small green buds.

Cerastium beeringianum

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

Chamerion angustifolium

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

Charmerion latifolium

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Charmerion latifolium. Purple flowers with four petals.

Chrysosplenium tetrandrum

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

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

Cochlearia officinalis

Cochlearia officinalis. Cluster of small white flowers.

A stand of white flowers clustered together

Dodecatheon frigidum

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

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

Draba lactea

Draba lactea. Small white flowers with green centers.

Draba lactea. Small white flowers with green centers.

Draba micropetala

Draba micropetala. Small yellow flowers with spikes.

Linnaea borealis

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

Melandrium apetalum

Melandrium apetalum. A purple flower shaped like a pod.

Melandrium apetalum. A purple flower shaped like a pod.

Melandrium apetalum. A purple flower shaped like a pod.

Mertensia maritima

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

Minuartia obtusiloba

Minuartia obtusiloba. Small white flowers with orange centers.

Oxyria digyna

Oxyria digyna. Cluster of tiny red flowers.

Oxyria digyna

Oxytropis nigrescens

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

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.

Papaver hultenii. A light yellow flower with four petals.

yellow poppies

Parrya nudicaulis

Parrya nudicaulis blooming. Light pink flowers with four petals.

Parrya nudicaulis blooming. Light pink flowers with four petals.

Parrya nudicaulis growth form

Parrya nudicaulis blooming. Light pink flowers with four petals.

Pedicularis capitata

Pedicularis capitata. Capitate yellow flowers.

Pedicularis capitata. Capitate yellow 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 lapponica

Pedicularis lapponica. Small yellow pod shaped flowers.

Pedicularis lapponica. Small yellow pod shaped flowers.

Pedicularis sudetica

Pedicularis sudetica. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis sudetica. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Pedicularis sudetica. A cluster of small pink flowers.

Petasites frigidus

Petasites frigidus. Pink and white flowers.

Petasites frigidus leaf.

Petasites frigidus. Pink and white flowers.

Petasites frigidus. Pink and white flowers.

white flower in a field

Polemonium acutiflorum

Polemonium acutiflorum in bloom. Five broad lilac petals.

Polygonum bistorta

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum bistorta. Cluster of small pink flowers.

Polygonum viviparum

Polygonum viviparum. Many tiny white flowers on a spike.

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.

Potentilla hyparctica. Small bright yellow flower with five petals.

Pyrola grandiflora

Pyrola grandiflora growth form

Pyrola grandiflora blooming, short statured, flowering

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

Ranunculus nivalus

Ranunculus nivalus. Yellow flowers with large green centers.

Ranunculus nivalus buds.

Ranunculus nivalus. Yellow flowers with large green centers.

A cluster of yellow flowers

Ranunculus pallasii

Ranunculus pallasii. White flower with heart shaped petals.

Ranunculus pallasii. White flower with heart shaped petals.

Ranunculus pygmaeus

Ranunculus pygmaeus. Small yellow flower.

Saussurea angustifolia

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

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

Saxifraga bronchialis subsp. fustonii

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

Saxifraga cernua

Saxifraga cernua. A small white flower with five petals.

Saxifraga cernua. A small white flower with five petals.

Saxifraga cernua. A small white flower with five petals.

a small plant with red nodules against a white sheet of paper

Saxifraga cespitosa

Saxifraga cespitosa. Small white flowers with large green centers.

a stand of yellow flowers clustered together

Saxifraga flagellaris

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

Saxifraga flagellaris in bloom. Five bright yellow petals.

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

Saxifraga foliolosa

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

Saxifraga foliolosa before it has bloomed.

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 hieracifolia. Small red petals with a large green center.

Saxifraga hirculus

Saxifraga hirculus. A small yellow flower with five petals.

Saxifraga hirculus. A small yellow flower with five petals.

Saxifraga hirculus. A small yellow flower with five petals.

Saxifraga nivalis

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

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.

Senecio atropurpureous. A bright yellow flower with many petals.

Silene acaulis

Silene acaulis. Purple flowers with five petals.

Silene acaulis. Purple flowers with five petals.

Stellaria laeta

Stellaria laeta. Small white flower.

Taraxacum alaskanum

Taraxacum alaskanum yellow ligulate head.

Graminoids (grass-like)

Alopecurus alpinus

Alopecurus alpinus. Long hairs on the head.

Alopecurus alpinus. Long hairs on the head.

Alopecurus alpinus. Long hairs on the head.

Arctagrostis latifolia

Arctagrostis latifolia. Purple leaves.

Arctagrostis latifolia. Purple leaves.

Arctagrostis latifolia. Purple leaves.

Carex aquatilis

Carex aquatilis. Yellow head.

Carex aquatilis seeds.

Carex aquatilis seeds.

Carex aquatilis. Yellow head.

Hierachloe pauciflora

Hierachloe pauciflora. Purple pods.

Eriophorum angustifolium

Eriophorum angustifolium. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum angustifolium. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum russeolum

Eriophorum russeolum. Scaled head.

Eriophorum russeolum. Scaled head.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri

Eriophorum scheuchzeri. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum scheuchzeri. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum vaginatum

Eriophorum vaginatum. Tufted white head.

Eriophorum vaginatum, Tufted white 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 arctica. Dark brown head.

Luzula confusa

Luzula confusa. Yellow head.

Luzula confusa. Yellow head.

Poa arctica

Poa arctica. Scaled head.

Shrubs (woody plants)

Andromeda polifolia

Andromeda polifolia in bloom, pink urceolate flowers

Arctous alpina

Arctous alpina black overwintered berries and white urceolate ephemeral flowers

Arctous alpina ripening berries

Betula nana

Betula nana. Small green leaves.

Betula nana. Small green leaves.

Cassiope tetragona

Cassiope tetragona. Bell shaped white flowers.

Cassiope tetragona. Bell shaped white flowers.

Cassiope tetragona buds.

Cassiope tetragona buds.

Cassiope tetragona fruits.

Cassiope tetragona. Bell shaped white flowers.

Diapensia lapponica

Diapensia lapponica. Small yellow flowers.

Diapensia lapponica. Cushion plant, small white flowers.

Dryas octopetala

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

Empetrum nigrum

Empetrum nigrum. Small black berries.

Kalmia procumbens

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

Kalmia procumbens forming a dense cushion.

Ledum palustre

Ledum palustre. Cluster of small white flowers.

Ledum palustre in flower. Small white clustered flowers.

Ledum palustre buds.

Ledum palustre. Cluster of small white flowers.

Rubus chamaemorus

Rubus chamaemorus. Medium white flowers.

Rubus chamaemorus fruit. Orange.

Rubus chamaemorus fruit. Orange.

Rubus chamaemorus fruit. Orange.

Salix pulchra

Salix pulchra. Pink stigmas.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix pulchra after blooming.

Salix rotundifolia

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas.

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas.

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas.

Salix rotundifolia. Red stigmas covered in pollen.

Salix rotundifolia. Red carpels.

Salix rotundifolia after blooming.

Salix rotundifolia. Red carpels.

Salix rotundifolia. Red carpels.

Vaccinium uliginosum

Vaccinium uliginosum. Small blue berries.

Vaccinium uliginosum. Small blue berries.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea

Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Small pink flowers.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea fruit. Red.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea. Red berries.

Vaccinium vitis-idaea fruit. Red.

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 August 4, 2025

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