It's hard to tell, but it looks like a sticky cinquefoil, aka: tall cinquefoil. I use the Guide to Colorado Wildflowers, Volume 2 Mountains by GK Guennel/Westcliffe.
Posted by Grant Collier on January 9, 2007 at 3:10 PM
Thanks for the replies. I've overlayed a closer view of one of the flowers on this image (refresh your browser if you can't see it). Also, in case it helps this was taken near Clear Lake in the San Juan Mountains.
Posted by Pam Colander on January 9, 2007 at 8:01 PM
Hi Grant,
It is an Alpine Avens. They grow in alpine and subalpine regions and bloom from June to August.Their leaves turn the tundra a deep red in late summer. The botanical name is Acomastylis rossii turbinata and is a perennial in the rose family. Another name is Geum. I was pretty sure that was what it was when I saw your post last night. Your close up nailed it. I have a reddish-orange blooming version in my garden
Pam
Posted by Grant Collier on January 11, 2007 at 7:29 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I finally had a chance to look these flowers up on the web. Buttercups (which was my initial guess), cinquefoils, and alpine avens all look like good candidates and all look almost identical. Apparently, the best way to distinguish them is by their leaves. Based on that, I'd guess alpine avens, but it's hard to be sure if the leaves I'm looking at are from the yellow flowers or another flower or perhaps not even part of a flower. So I think I'll be safe and just refer to them as "wildflowers"
Discussion
5 repliesThanks.
Is it an Avin?
It is an Alpine Avens. They grow in alpine and subalpine regions and bloom from June to August.Their leaves turn the tundra a deep red in late summer. The botanical name is Acomastylis rossii turbinata and is a perennial in the rose family. Another name is Geum. I was pretty sure that was what it was when I saw your post last night. Your close up nailed it. I have a reddish-orange blooming version in my garden
Pam