Semi-desert. Shrublands. Spring.
Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, March 23, 2001.

The gray-green appearance, low growth form, often spiny branches, and habit of dominating large tracts of the canyon country of Southeast Utah make Blackbrush pretty easy to identify.  Its masses of yellow flowers (shown below) are attractive, but even though this plant is accustomed to drought, it is affected by prolonged drought years such as those of 1999-2004 in which it produced few flowers.  In 2005, though, the story was different: continuous winter and spring moisture produced masses of flowers on Coleogyne ramosissima and made Canyon Country golden.

"Coleogyne" is Greek for "sheathed fruit", and "ramosissima" is Latin for "many branched".  John Torrey named this genus and species in 1853 from a specimen collected by John Fremont in 1844.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Spring.
Hunter Canyon, Utah, May 3, 2005.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Spring.
Hidden Valley Trail, Utah, May 10, 2007.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Spring.
Confluence Trail, The Needles, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, May 20, 2004.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Spring.
Hunter Canyon, Utah, May 3, 2005.

Semi-desert. Shrublands. Spring.
Mesa Arch Trail, Island in the Sky, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, September 27, 2005.

Mature seed pods and the pear-shaped seeds are tan to rich brown.  Notice also the sharp points of dead branches.