Parry oxytrope, Oxytropis parryi, California, White Mountains, Sheep Mountain, Fishlake Valley drainage, elevation 3525 m (11565 ft).

This species is found in scattered, mostly alpine populations in the western United States, from the central and southern Rocky Mountains westward across the higher sky islands of the Great Basin to the southern Sierra Nevada. Here in the White Mountains it is encountered most frequently in generally dry sites on gentle north to northeast aspects that hold snow a little longer. Reproductive activity commences as the snow melts and soil temperatures warm sufficiently, and by the time botanists find them they are often in very late fruit. This plant must have been especially well watered to still be in this condition at the end of July.

At this location two other Oxytropis species grew adjacent and sometimes mixed with O. parryi - a similar but apparently unnamed species new to science (topic of next post), and the very different O. borealis. For comparison with the upcoming unnamed species, note the silvery and mostly appressed hairs on the ascending to erect stems and leaves of O. parryi, and the 4-6 or sometimes 7 pairs of lateral leaflets on each leaf.