What in the world is this???

[rocksncactus]

I just rediscovered on my computer a photo that I took in Utah in the summer of 2002. At the time I wondered what this plant was, but I never was able to identify it. I am now once again consumed with the desire to know. Locale was out in the desert, but we were not at low elevation. I remember that we camped at a rather high elevation and I spent a cold night with a rotten pressure headache. I don't believe we had traveled far from the salt lake we had camped above when we found it. Not The Great Salt Lake but a salt lake. Now I have this wonderful forum, and I hope someone can identify it for me.

This appeared to be one plant, even though it has two parts that look completely different. I have a vague memory that I gently moved parts and saw that it was all connected, but that may be a false memory. Hah! It certainly looked succulent. Any ideas? Thanks! The "cute" selfie is to show the area; the salt lake is behind and below us. Oh, and we camped out at Topaz Mountain on that trip, too, so it may have been out in that area. But I think it was closer to the salt lake campsite. Thanks!

[Stan]

A guess,could be a Euphorbia and the outside are unopened flower buds/bracts.

A tip might be to take a look at Crime Pays and Botany doesn't on youtube and look at any vids he did in Utah. THAT'S exactly the kind of plant he would kneel before. Who wouldn't?

[toditd]

I believe that is a beautiful example of Twinpod, maybe Chamber’s Twinpod, Physaria chambersii, but possibly Rydberg Twinpod, Physaria acutifolia. In bloom it has a ring of yellow flowers on short stalks which tend to surrounding the rosette. After flowering it produces bladder-like double fruit capsules that turn reddish as they mature. So you get this (almost echeveria-like) rosette surrounded by these strange fruit capsules.

Yes, it is all one plant.

[Paul S]

What a curious plant! I love it when plants look like one thing them surprise you by being something entirely different. I'd love to try and grow this here. Is it hard to please? I'd guess it needs extreme dry once established.

[Meangreen94z]

Physaria chambersii
https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=PHCH2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
That looks pretty much right.

[Stan]

I was almost close. I know CPBBD on youtube,has shown plants like that. A Brassica that looks like a Dudleya. I did get those are flower buds as he has shown either that plant or similar in my memory bank. Utah- Atacama desert similar oddities.

[toditd]

I did get those are flower buds

Those aren't flower buds in the above photo, those are the developing seed capsules encircling the leaves. Flowering has already taken place.

[Ann]

Go here for several photos in all stages of growth. https://calscape.org/Physaria-chambersii-()

[Stan]

Something to look for. I did check Annie's Annuals...she has no record of selling it or any Physaria.

[Paul S]

I was almost close.

Close? Well, you got the right kingdom, Stan - Plantae

[Stan]

You beat me to it. I was ready to post "I had plant right". Darn thing is..pretty sure the Cussing botanist has shown that plant. The whole ultra exotic and yet being a Brassica that looks like a succulent. Now that I know what it is..THAT I remember. I think.

[Stan]

I should have settled for "From Earth".

[Meangreen94z]

It looks like he forgot that he posted this here. Hasn’t been back since, but I’m sure eventually he’ll be.

[Paul S]

It looks like he forgot that he posted this here. Hasn’t been back since, but I’m sure eventually he’ll be.

She. Name of Liz, according to the introduction.